Plaque at The War Memorial pays tribute to son of Grosse Pointe Park family
GROSSE POINTE FARMS Oct. 19, 2023 – Tom Lueders name lives on at The War Memorial.
In May, a memorial tribute plaque was installed at The War Memorial. The plaque is located outside, on the terrace near the doors to the Patriot Gallery in the Fred M. Alger Center. It was given in loving memory of Tom Lueders by Rick and Susie Lueders, his father and stepmother. The Lueders have been married 23 years.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Lueders for their generous contributions,” Maria Miller, president & CEO of The War Memorial, said. “Their support not only fuels our mission but also makes a significant impact on the lives we strive to uplift.”
In 2006, Tom Lueders died at the age of 26 when he and his father were on a trip in Key West, Florida. Tom Lueders was a graduate of Grosse Pointe South High School, class of 1999 and attended Boston College. He died of carbon monoxide poisoning after it leaked from a faulty boiler next to their hotel room.
“You know that Tom packed everything into his 26 years,” Susie Lueders said. “He didn’t sweat the small stuff. He lived his life as anybody would want to if they knew they only had a limited amount of time.”
At the time of his passing, Tom Lueders resided in Washington, D.C., working for an insurance industry lobbying group.
“Our involvement with The War Memorial has been over a number of years,” Rick Lueders said. “It started years ago coming here for various events. Over the last several years, we make it a point of coming for the Memorial Day service which is over the top and fantastic.”
Inscribed on the plaque is Tom Lueder’s favorite expression “Do it for the story!”
The expression “encouraged all who knew him to live life to the fullest,” the plaque reads. “May this place and your experience here inspire the same sense of wonder, a life filled with hope, unconditional love and the blessing of peace from above.”
“It is an honor to pay tribute to their son in this way, as a reminder to others to live in the moment and experience life to the fullest, as Tom exemplified,” Miller said.
The Lueders’, of Grosse Pointe Park, have pledged $100,000 to The War Memorial over the years with a portion of the funds going toward a memorial tribute honoring their son.
The couple hopes that when folks look at the plaque, they can see the spirit of who Tom Lueders was – someone who enjoyed life with no regrets.
“The mission of The War Memorial and opening it up to the community, making it a world-renowned place for people to come,” Susie Lueders said in response to why the Lueders contribute financially to the nonprofit organization. “We were most interested in the patriotic aspect and to make sure that continued and that The War Memorial didn’t just become another banquet center.”
Rick Lueders noted that their interest in The War Memorial broadened when they moved and their new next-door neighbor was former War Memorial President & CEO Charles Burke.
“We got to know the Burke’s a bit and a result of that became even more interested and supportive,” Rick Lueders said. “The notion of having a community opportunity for folks for very low-cost events and programs, I think it is fantastic. Literally anybody can come here.”
He also noted that the incident on that fateful day in 2006 can be attributed to there not being a carbon monoxide detector in the hotel room.
“Be sure to have a carbon monoxide detector in your house, and to travel with a portable carbon monoxide detector,” Rick Lueders said. “If it never goes off, no big deal. If it does, it can help save a life.”
The Lueders played a part in Florida and Michigan to have legislation passed that changes requirements for hotels and carbon monoxide usage. In Florida, Rick Lueders said the law is for detectors to be placed within 50 feet of any device that emits carbon monoxide. In Michigan, the law is for new construction of hotels only, not existing hotels.
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About The War Memorial
The War Memorial, located on the shores of Lake Saint Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms is an experiential space open to everyone. For over 70 years, The nonprofit has served as a patriotic, cultural, and community center. Its unique environment attracts more than 3,000 events and 250,000 visitors annually while offering premier hospitality services for community and private gatherings. Its diverse lineup of innovative programming includes live and virtual engagement experiences for adults and children. At its core, The War Memorial celebrates the ideas of American democracy while honoring those who have defended those ideas with tireless effort and personal sacrifice. Numerous patriotic and veterans’ events are held as well as history and civics offerings on the origin, traditions, and challenges facing American democracy. The War Memorial remains committed to serving the community as a unique, dynamic, and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan.
CONTACT:
Alex Szwarc, The War Memorial
Manager of Communications
313.881.7514, aszwarc@warmemorial.org