By Dennis Volkert
A Memorial Day commemoration takes place May 26 in Sturgis.
A parade begins at 10:30 a.m., departing from VFW post on Fawn River Road, then proceeding north on Nottawa Street to Oaklawn Park, where the ceremony begins at 11 a.m.
Featured speaker is Brad Urick, sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps.
The ceremony includes “Roll Call of the Dead,” led by Jim Broadbridge, finance officer at American Legion Post 73; Salute to the Dead by VFW Honor Guard; Roll Call of the Wars (Tom Abney, commander, VFW Post 1355) and Salute to the Wars (Larry K. Richardson, FCCS (SW) USN Retired). Flag-raising is by Marvin Shields, E8 Retired, Michigan National Guard. Rob Millard, commander VFW Honor/Color Guard, will lead Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Frank Perez will provide the welcome address.
Sturgis High School band, directed by James Whitehead, is set to perform the national anthem, Taps and Echo, and an additional selection.
Doug Porter, chaplain at VFW Post 1355, provides the invocation and benediction.
Mike Stiles is master of ceremonies.
Urick joined the Marines after graduating from high school and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, and New River Air Station, N.C. In 1983, he was assigned to the headquarters of the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit. He was deployed to Beirut, Lebanon, as a peacekeeper. He survived an attack on the barracks that resulted in the death of 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers. It was the largest single-day loss of Marine life since Iwo Jima. He was the only survivor from the counter-intelligence team.
He attained the rank of sergeant before concluding his time in the Marine Corps and earned the Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal and numerous service and unit ribbons.
After his military service, he received a Bachelor of Arts with a dual major in pastoral ministry and Bible. He spent more than 20 years as a member of the clergy, serving as a police chaplain.
Urick is Past Commandant of Elkhart Area Marines, Detachment 1397 of Marine Corps League and currently serves as District Vice-Commandant for Department of Indiana Marine Corps League.
