REMEBERING IN DEARBORN - APAAM Participates in Dearborn, Michigan Memorial Day Parade on Monday May 25, 2009 

This past Monday, May 25, 2009, the Association of Patriotic Arab Americans in Military marched to remember in Dearborn, Michigan, those who sacrificed and gave their lives for the defense of America.  Numerous Arab Americans representing APAAM who were comprised of serving military members, veterans, and their families, showed their strength and dedication to the Dearborn, Michigan community in remembering those veterans and heroes who gave their lives for this great country.   

We dedicated this march to WWII Veterans Rosette Harp who recently passed away.  May he rest in peace!

Marching with us for the third year in a row was WWII veteran Alec Barry and his son Don Berry who is a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran.

In addition, many veterans such as recently retired U.S. Marine, CWO-4 Sam Farran.  Marching along his side was U.S. Marine Veteran Mousa Sareini, U.S. Army Veteran and Vietnam Veteran Ron Amen, along with U.S. Army Veteran Jim Badeen (Great Nephew of Private Nathan Badeen who died in the Revolutionary War).  They all came to remember all those who sacrificed beginning with the remembrance of Private Nathan Badeen, a Syrian Immigrant who died for this country in the Revolutionary War as part of the 18^th Continental Regiment on May 21^st, 1776 and the many other Arab and Muslim American Veterans who gave their life in defense of this country.   

We would like to thank those who helped make this year’s march a success: 

• US Army Recruiting Command  -  Michigan Army National Guard 
• University of Michigan ROTC Program 
• Global Linguist Solutions
   
• Special thank you to Dearborn City Councilwoman Suzanne Sareini,
• and also a great special thanks to Ron Amen, Facility Director, Arab American National Museum for holding the after Parade Recognition Meeting.  Ron Amen is a Vietnam Veteran who served with the US Army, and
• Captain Andre' Bellamy, US Army (Ret.) Major Lisa Bellamy, US Army, and Bushra Alawei of ANG for helping to make this event a success, and hats off to;
• Sam Alhumdi, Jamal Mogalli, and Bill Bazzi for being the 2009 APAAM Parade Committee for successfully carrying out another great parade.

During this year’s march, APAAM, recognized and memorialized Arabic Linguists for their service and sacrifice to this country in a Memorial Day Parade - Last year in the 2008 Memorial Day Parade was the first time that a Veterans Organization has given such recognition to linguists serving the US Military.  The Association of Patriotic Arab American in Military is the largest Arab American Veterans Organization in the nation representing hundreds of military members, veterans, and their families.  There are over 3,500 Arab Americans who serve in the US Military.  Recognizing those linguists who share in the burden of helping the success of America’s security is a token of our appreciation.  

Remembering in Dearborn - we remembered those who served and sacrificed for this country. 

God Bless America! 

Photos taken by Jamal Mogalli, APAAM Family Member - father of U.S. Air Force Veteran Rayed Mogalli who is currently serving overseas as a contract linguist supporting U.S. Armed Forces.