Our Community Salutes — The War Memorial
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Our Community Salutes
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
6:00 PM
8:30 PM
The War Memorial
32 Lake Shore Road
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, 48236
United States
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Honoring and supporting our community’s newest and youngest service members
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Back again, join us as we recognize and celebrate the Class of 2026 high school seniors from metro Detroit who have made the honorable decision to enlist in the United States Armed Forces.
The Detroit-area Our Community Salutes (OCS) High School Enlistee Recognition Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at The War Memorial.
This is the only OCS ceremony in Michigan!
This special evening is dedicated to these young men and women and their families, acknowledging their commitment to serve our nation. The event provides a meaningful opportunity for the community to express gratitude, offer support, and celebrate their transition into military service.
Event Details
6:30pm Recognition Ceremony-
A formal program featuring distinguished speakers, the Oath of Enlistment, and a tribute to our future service members.
7:30pm Resource Fair and Reception-
Enlistees, family members, military personnel, recruiters, and community supporters are invited to connect with military organizations, veteran groups, and service-related resources.
We invite the public to attend and show their support for these young men and women as they embark on their journey of military service. Let’s come together to honor their courage, commitment, and dedication to serving our country.
Our 2026 Featured Speaker-
This year’s featured speaker is
Coast Guard Cmdr. Brett McCall
, deputy commander of Sector Detroit. Additional speakers include War Memorial Board of Directors members and Navy veterans Aaron Turk and Sal Martinez.
View Our 2025 Ceremony
About Cmdr. Brett McCall
CDR Brett McCall assumed duty as the Deputy Sector Commander at Coast Guard Sector Detroit in July of 2025. He oversees eleven subordinate units and 560 active and reserve members with an area of responsibility stretching from Vermillion, Ohio west and northward beyond Tawas, Michigan along 427 miles of international border with Canada through Lakes Erie, St. Clair and Huron and along the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers.
Prior to this assignment, CDR McCall served as the Deputy StaffJudge Advocate at Coast Guard District Great Lakes, where he oversaw the provision of legal advice and legal services to the Commander, Great Lakes District, and all subordinate units.
Originally from Toledo, Ohio, CDR McCall graduated from The Ohio State University, with a B.A. in Criminology in 2000. He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2004 and is a member of the Mississippi Bar.
About Our Community Salutes
Our Community Salutes (OCS) is a national, non-profit organization helping communities recognize, honor and support high school seniors who plan to enlist in the U.S. Armed Services after graduation. In 2025, The War Memorial was one of 58 OCS ceremonies held across the country.
OCS was founded in 2009 by educator and former U.S. Army officer, Dr. Kenneth Hartman, to provide enlistees and their parents with guidance, information, resources and community support from like-minded enlistees and parents as their son or daughter transition into military service.
Our Community Salutes includes community leaders, government officials, educators, businessmen, and veterans who feel strongly in the importance of community support and recognition of the patriotic young adults who will enlist in the military after graduation.
Our Community Salutes was founded in 2009 with our inaugural OCS of South Jersey community.
OCS is a
501c3
non-profit organization with a
GuideStar Bronze Seal of Transparency
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Thank you to our Patriotic Programming sponsors
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