The annual Veterans Day ceremony drew dozens who have served in armed services to Royal Oak’s Barbara A. Hallman Memorial Plaza at Centennial Commons Park in the downtown area Monday.

The event opened with a short musical interlude before remarks from city Mayor Michael Fournier, who was joined by Oakland County Executive David Coulter and Board of Commissioners Chairman Dave Woodward. Mike Sherman was emcee of the event, bringing up representatives from a number of local organizations including the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Erza Parker Chapter of the NSDAR and the Royal Oak police and fire departments presented flowers.

In a break from past Veterans Day gatherings, instead of a keynote speaker, veterans lined up near the dais and introduced themselves to the group assembled in front of them, offering what branch of the service they served in and in the case of those who were deployed what theater they operated in. The Royal Oak High School Wind Ensemble performed at the event.

The three main monuments at the memorial are filled with the names of those who died in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Those who died in the U.S. Civil War and World War I are on bronze plaques. Two granite benches at the memorial will serve also to add new names from other conflicts including U.S. Marine Cpl. Nicholas Manoukian, whose name was added last year. He died in the line of duty while serving in combat operations in Iraq on Oct. 21, 2006.

A luncheon at the Royal Oak-Detroit Elks Lodge followed Monday’s ceremony.

— MediaNews Group staff