TRUMAN, KENNEDY students perform during Armed Forces Day celebration

The Truman High School band provided the music, and the Kennedy and Truman JROTC members presented the colors during the City of Taylor and the Taylor Veterans Museum Commission’s 2016 version of Armed Forces Day on Saturday, May 16. For the second straight year, the event was forced indoors because of the weather.

Around 150 people attended the event, which is usually held in the Cameron Priebe Plaza outside in front of the Taylor Police Department. This year's event, like last year's, was moved into the City Council Chambers and the general atrium area.

Activities focused on two groups -- Afghanistan- and Iraq-era campaign veterans. Each veteran of those campaigns -- or their families -- were awarded a medal and a letter from the City of Taylor.

The veterans museum commission annually presents the event, and Stephanie Krueger served as the master of ceremonies.

Museum chairman Jack Meyers greeted those attending. After an invocation by Taylor Auxiliary Police Chaplain David Edwards, and the National Anthem was sung by Michelle Pfeifer.

St. Andrews Pipe & Drum Corp of Detroit's Jim Lyon served as the bag piper. The Pledge of Alliance was led by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America.

Mayor Rick Sollars, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell and State Rep. Erika Geiss all addressed the crowd before turning over the podium to the main speakers, Army National Guard Sgt. Ryan Greytok and Staff Sgt. Christa Dudley. Each discussed their careers and deployment in the overseas conflicts.

The reading of deceased Taylor veterans' names was done by Margret Kucharek, VFW Post 4422, City Councilman Tim Woolley, Dray Dreher, and Museum Commissioner Susan Riddle.

Eventually, the event moved back outdoors, where there was an official wreath-laying, taps was played, and the new Garden Stone was dedicated by Mayor Sollars.

Chris Eagling, a member of the late Holly McGeogh's squad in Iraq, returned for a second straight year to lay dog tags on her memorial. Holly was the only Taylor native killed in Iraq. Holly's mom, Paula Love, was also on hand.

The Taylor Veterans Museum was established in 2009 and continues to flourish in the atrium of City Hall. It is free to visit, and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.