Ron and Mary Lamparter: A War Memorial story of support and patriotism

For Ron and Mary Lamparter, their support of The War Memorial is for two primary reasons: for the community and to see work being done for veterans.

“It’s an amazing asset seeing what The War Memorial gives back to the community,” Mary said. “The War Memorial is creating a much more robust veterans’ program than we’ve ever had in the past.”

The Lamparter’s, of Grosse Pointe Farms, married in 1982. They each served on The War Memorial’s Board of Directors - Ron in the 1990s, and Mary from 2015-2023.

In high school in the 1950s, Ron remembers coming to The War Memorial for events.

Mary and Ron Lamparter are seen here at The War Memorial in May 2023 at the dedication ceremony for Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge.

“I went to Detroit Public Schools, so it was a privilege for me to go to anything in Grosse Pointe,” he said. “It was just the house back then, the theater hadn’t been built.”

Mary believes that The War Memorial is one of the greatest assets that any community can have.

“It’s unique because of where it sits,” she adds. “People are overwhelmed by the Lake St. Clair view. The Alger House is significant and one of the few mansions we’ve been able to keep in the Grosse Pointes.”

Speaking about when her first experience at The War Memorial was, Mary noted it would have been for a War Memorial event during the days of Mark Weber.

Weber was the president of The War Memorial for over 30 years, beginning in 1982.

Mary’s involvement with The War Memorial increased after meeting former War Memorial President and CEO Charles Burke in 2015.

“I met him and I guess I did something right because he came back and asked me if I would be on the board,” Mary said. “Being on the board was one of the best times. It was under a new president and we managed to build the Alger Center, then Les Braves was another major event. There was a newfound energy that was brought to the community, promoting The War Memorial in ways that it hadn’t been in the past.”

Speaking more about her time on the board, Mary noted that it was a time of rejuvenation with the organization taking a new role in the community.

In response to what changes he has seen at The War Memorial, Ron said that after World War II, it became a center for patriotism, later becoming more of a community center. The War Memorial’s mission is to be a patriotic, cultural, and community leader.

“Now, it’s got back on track more toward patriotism, which I believe is a strong need for our country,” he said.

When Mary saw Les Braves II: At Water’s Edge on the lakefront lawn at The War Memorial in the spring of 2023, she said it was overwhelming.

“It was something that even though we had been talking about it for months and planning, to actually see it was beyond all expectations,” she said. “I didn’t have any idea of the physical impact it was going to have.”

During the May 2023 dedication ceremony for the sculpture, the Lamparter’s, along with artist Anilore Banon, spread sand that was collected from the Easy Red sector of Omaha Beach in Normandy, France at the base of Les Braves II.

When he sees Les Braves II, Ron thinks of the everyone working together, as was the case in World War II.

“My father and grandfather told me that when D-Day happened, that was the beginning of the end of World War II. It will soon be over,” Ron recalled. “And it was. It was an important time in my life. The sculpture represents togetherness.”

One Les Braves II story that the Lamparter’s shared was for Ron’s 80th birthday, before knowing that the sculpture would be at The War Memorial, an artist friend completed a painting of the original Les Braves that now hangs in the Lamparter’s office.

“It was a couple of years after that when it was brought up at The War Memorial and I could say ‘I know what that is.’” Mary said. “It was almost full circle to not knowing what it was, to a couple of years later standing in front of it.”

This year, as part of our 75th anniversary, The War Memorial will share stories from the public about the impact and experiences they have had at the nonprofit organization. Do you have a special War Memorial story or memory? Join us in telling #myWMstory and share yours!