DEARBORN, MI- As Memorial Day weekend approaches, Fordson High School held its annual Walter Kielb Memorial Ceremony on Thursday, May 22, 2025, paying tribute to the 118 alumni who gave their lives in service to the United States Armed Forces. The historic Fordson auditorium was filled with students, veterans, local officials, and community members in a powerful display of remembrance and pride.
This year’s keynote address was delivered by Dr. Youssef Mosallam, Superintendent of the Crestwood School District and a proud former Fordson teacher and principal. For Dr. Mosallam, returning to Fordson was not just about delivering remarks—it was personal.
“I once taught U.S. History in these very classrooms,” he said. “So many of the lessons I taught were rooted in the names, faces, and lives of students who once sat in these seats—many of whom left and never returned, sacrificing everything so that the young people here today could live freely.”
Dr. Mosallam spoke directly to the students in the crowd, calling on them to look around the auditorium and reflect: “In these very seats once sat young men and women who walked out of this building, answered the call to serve, and never came back. They did so for you—so that you could sit here today, laugh in the hallway, learn without fear, speak your truth, and walk your walk.”
He emphasized the importance of never taking freedom for granted—especially in a community where the right to worship, the right to protest, and the right to wear one’s identity with pride are sacred. “The freedom to wear your hijab. The freedom to pray. The freedom to speak your mind. The freedom to receive a quality education. These freedoms were protected by those we remember today,” he said. “Freedom is not a guarantee—it’s a gift, guarded by sacrifice.”
Dr. Mosallam closed his remarks with a personal story about a dear friend—an American Muslim veteran who was honorably discharged after years of faithful service. At his memorial service, the military honored him with the recitation of the Quran. “In that moment,” he told the audience, “I was reminded that our faith is not only compatible with patriotism—it is part of it. That as Arab Americans, as Muslims, as children of immigrants, we are woven into the very fabric of this country’s defense and its ideals.”
His voice grew firm as he addressed the students one last time: “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you don’t belong here. Your story—your identity—is tied to the stories of the men and women we honor today. Their sacrifice is your inheritance. Make it count.”
The ceremony began with welcoming remarks from Fordson Principal Mr. Chadi Farhat, who honored the school’s rich tradition of service. Dearborn School Board Trustee Mr. Hussein Berry thanked the veterans in attendance and asked students to take a moment to observe the American flags lining the school hallways—each one honoring someone who gave their life so others could walk those halls in freedom. Newly elected Trustee Mr. Jamal Aljahmi stood with the Fordson community in remembrance. President of the Dearborn School Board, Mr. Adel Mozip, spoke of the Fordson patriots who answered the call to serve and never returned home.
Dearborn Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko reflected on the significance of the event and praised Fordson’s continued dedication to honoring its fallen heroes. The Dearborn Detachment 152, Marine Corps League Color Guard, led the ceremonial tribute with distinction, joined by local veterans. As the sound of “Taps” echoed through the auditorium, a profound silence filled the space—one of honor, memory, and responsibility.
As Memorial Day weekend nears, the Crestwood School District joins the Dearborn Public Schools in honoring those who gave everything—and in reminding all students that remembrance must be active, intentional, and lived every day in the freedoms we are privileged to enjoy.