Annual Royal Oak Memorial Day parade brings out thousands

ROYAL OAK, Mich. (WJBK) - The annual Royal Oak Memorial Day parade brought out thousands Monday to honor those whose final act was serving our country.

A tradition for more than four decades, the parade began at Lincoln and Maine.

It was a special day for co-grand marshal David Shepler.

"My buddies were killed in Baghdad, so I like to honor them, have a drink for them, and really think about them this day and what they did for this country," he said.

There were many stories behind each flag waving Monday.

Before the parade, volunteers served up a pancake breakfast down the road at the Royal Oak Farmer's Market. It's one of the biggest fundraisers for the Royal Oak Historical Society, a nonprofit organization. Anyone in uniform ate for free.

"This is what this day's all about -- those who never made it back," Shepler said.

The Royal Oak Memorial Day parade ended in a salute and laying of the wreaths, reminding everyone to take a moment and think about those lost.