June 3, 2021
Bi-Weekly County Executive Newsletter
Dear Friends,
On Monday, I joined with local veterans and city leaders to commemorate Memorial Day at Royal Oak’s annual parade.
It was a beautiful summer day filled with thousands of people anxious to return to the normal things of life after 15 months of living with the remote work and isolation of COVID-19 – a community parade, a picnic with family, an evening concert.
It was such a pleasant departure to see and talk with so many people face-to-face. But it’s so important to remember the reason we were all there. Memorial Day isn’t a celebration. It’s a solemn occasion dedicated to paying tribute to the military heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe.
This year, the parade marked its 100th anniversary and attracted thousands of people to pay tribute to those military members who lost their lives fighting to defend the values of freedom. I also loved talking to the “Rosie the Riveters” group, who marched in the parade, and reminded us that there were plenty of heroes at home too, supporting the war effort.
The sacrifices these heroes and their families have made are immeasurable. They will always live on in our hearts and in our memories.
And it is our obligation to these brave men and women to continue to preserve the values that we deeply share: justice, equality and freedom.
Since World War 1, more than 60,300 Oakland County residents have served our country and 1,200 of them have made that ultimate sacrifice.
It was my honor to pay tribute to them.
With gratitude,
David Coulter
Oakland County Executive
COVID-19 by the numbers
- Number of residents, 16 and older, with at least one dose: 679,539
- Percent: 66%
- Percent of residents, ages 12-15, with at least one dose: 64%
- Percent of seniors with at least one dose: 82.4%
- Total doses distributed in Oakland County: 1,270,955
Oakland County marks the beginning of Pride month
To mark the beginning of Pride Month this year, Oakland County accomplished a first Tuesday morning when the Pride flag with its rainbow of colors was raised at three spots on the county’s campus in Pontiac and Waterford.
“While it’s a small symbol meant to commemorate the challenges faced by LGBTQ members of our community, including me, it packs a very powerful statement,” said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. “The flag means that when people drive onto Oakland County’s government campus in Pontiac and Waterford, they know they’re entering a safe and welcoming place. This is a place where all people are valued and respected.”
And while June is Pride month, dedicated to honoring the struggles that the LGBTQ community have endured to get basic rights, Coulter said the county also wants to extend that welcoming hand to all our residents, including immigrants, refugees and people of color.
“For me, the Pride flag represents more than just a message to our LGBTQ friends. It’s a signal that we need to be more tolerant, accepting and kind to each other,” he said.
Coulter joins call to free journalist Danny Fenster
Huntington Woods native Danny Fenster, a journalist living in Myanmar, was taken into custody by the military while he was on his way to the airport to catch a plane back to Detroit.
Oakland County Executive David Coulter joined legislative and congressional leaders calling on the Myanmar government to release Fenster, the managing editor of a news site called Frontier Myanmar, immediately.
“Oakland County journalist Danny Fenster was unlawfully detained and imprisoned in Myanmar on May 24,” Coulter said. “I urge Secretary of State Antony Blinken to act towards his immediate release.”
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