'Greatest Generation' Veteran to Lead Brighton Parade

After serving in two wars, U.S. Navy veteran Charles Markham said he isn't ashamed to admit that he gets teary-eyed whenever he hears the National Anthem played.

"And I hate when a singer changes it and makes it more about them and not about the words," the 86-year-old Brighton man said.

Part of the "Greatest Generation," Markham is being honored this year as the Grand Marshal of the Independence Parade in Brighton on July 4. With the 2013 theme of "Home of the Brave, Land of the Free," Markham said he was "truly honored" to be chosen. 

Markham, who enlisted in 1944 when he was just 17-years-old, said he "drove his mother nuts" until she agreed to sign off and let him join the Navy. And just a few months later, the teenage boy from Detroit was proudly serving his country, sailing on the U.S.S. Miles in World War II.

After returning home in 1946, Markham remained as an active reserve until the day in 1950 when he said he knew he would be returning to war.

"I was sitting on the porch listening to the ball game on June 25, 1950 and they broke in and announced that the North had come into South Korea and I thought, I'm going," he said.

By October of that year, Markham was part of the Korean War where he served as a naval Quartermaster until July of 1952.

Returning home again, Markham spent the next 25 years as a Detroit cop before retiring and eventually moved to Brighton in 2002.

During the late 1980's and 90's, Markham continued to serve his country as an active veteran and as part of the Destroyer Escort Historical Foundation, he was instrumental in helping to restore the U.S.S. Slater, which is currently a museum located in Albany, NY.

The U.S.S. Slater DE766, a Cannon class destroyer escort, had served in the United States Navy during World War II, and according to their website, is the last destroyer escort remaining afloat in the United States today. 

The veteran, patriot, father, grandfather and great-grandfather will be honored for his years of service and dedication to his country as he rides in the parade on Thursday. His wife of 58 years, Shirley, passed away in 2012, but Markham said many of his family members will be coming in from out of town for the event.

Already practicing his wave, Markham's words of thanks to the Brighton community for the honor of being selected as the grand marshal were full of humility and pure patriotism.

"God bless America," he said.