(bright music) - As communities across the state prepare to observe the Memorial Day holiday, the event has special significance for the City of Dearborn.

It will be hosting the 100th anniversary of the longest running Memorial Day Parade in Michigan.

With us to talk about this milestone is Mayor of Dearborn Abdullah Hammoud, and this year's Parade Grand Marshall, US Navy Captain Sam Sareini.

Mayor Hammoud, the Dearborn Parade is marking its centennial.

Could you tell us why you believe this tradition is endured for 100 years and it's continuing significance for the community?

- I think it's endured because so many of our families are folks who have enlisted, who are currently serving, actively serving such as Captain Sam Sareini, who is a family friend.

And I can't tell you how proud we are of all that he has been able to do, not only for this community, but also for this country.

And lastly, I'll also add that Dearborn is a city that has sacrificed so much, you know, and this year's Centennial will be recognizing the 347 names of fallen Dearborn service members listed on our War Memorial outside of our Centennial Library.

We also have a Yard Sign Project, which is trying to educate community members on these 347 service members, where they lived, where they worked, where they studied, the lives they lived prior to joining the forces.

And so we are really going above and beyond in trying to educate our community.

But this is a community that is filled with pride for its country, for its community, and for the service members men and women who have enlisted, who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

- Captain Sareini, you've had a long and distinguished naval career.

There must be a special significance for you as Grand Marshall of a parade honoring the men and women who have served our country.

- It's important to remember the Memorial Day ceremony is to, they pay honor to the people who have fallen in service of this country.

So, for someone who's serving to be able to do that, it's incredibly special.

And it means a lot to me obviously being Lebanese, you know, and from Dearborn, I went to McDonald's Elementary, Laurie Middle School, and then Fordson High School, like to be able to come back in this capacity is an incredible honor.

- And I can't tell you how blessed we are to have a local, as our Grand Marshal.

That is so meaningful, especially in our centennial.

And not only just any local, but you know, the Captain is also an Arab American, probably Muslim American.

It's meaningful to demonstrate that you have diversity amongst the ranks of those who serve, of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

And that's you're very uniquely set here in the City of Dearborn.

- You often said as one of the first Muslim Americans to command the Naval Warship.

What kinda message do you think that has for both, for you and the community?

- What it speaks to is like there's nothing, but opportunity in this country.

It's incredibly powerful to have, you know, a captain named Houssain in the United States Navy.

- You probably have family along the parade route, I think cheering you on.

- Yeah, I mean, as you know, my mother served on City Council for a long time, and my older brother serves, like my whole family.

You know, there's only a handful of us that migrate outside of Dearborn.

- Captain Sareini is not selling himself enough.

And the reason I say that is he doesn't just come from any family.

His mother was the first Arab American and Muslim American woman elected in this country.

His brother is currently the Council President for Dearborn City Council.

And this is a family that is dedicated its lives to public service.

And you see it now following in the next generations.

And I can't tell you how proud we are of the entirety of the Sareini family amongst them obviously Captain Houssain is with us today.

And so again, we're thrilled to be celebrating with one- - I'm the least successful one.

- Yeah, (laughs) I would, I think many would argue against that.

- My brother, there's been a Sareini in the Dearborn City Council for last 50 years consecutively, and it's bigger than that.

Like, because you don't have to wear this uniform under serve, the mayor serves, like it's just a community that I believe that's congruent with our culture and our religion, that that kind of tells you that you should consider others first before.

And I love the fact that, you know, that we're remembering the names of the people 'cause it's always, it's lost on people, the sacrifice it takes in order to have a, all the freedoms we have.

So, it's fantastic to have the signs and to read about their lives because it's important to remember, you know, what they gave, and unfortunately some gave all.

- This is a great time for the community to come together to memorialize with one another.

And I think you're going to see dignitaries from the highest levels of the state, all the way down to local levels, all coming to this Dearborn Centennial Memorial Day Parade and recognition of the sacrifice that Dearborn has made throughout its years for this great nation.

(gentle music)