Wreath-laying ceremony marks Gerald R. Ford’s birthday

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Sunday marks what would have been former President Gerald R. Ford’s 111th birthday.

To commemorate, a wreath-laying ceremony was held outside of the Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids. Along with the wreath laying, there was also a special ceremony to honor the Ford family which included the former First Lady.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, spoke at the ceremony about how her late husband, John Dingell, the longest-serving member of Congress, worked across the aisle with President Ford.

“I’m a Democrat, he was the very first president I voted for. In those days, there weren’t much difference in the perspectives that a Gerry Ford and a John Dingell brought to the jobs that they were doing. They respected each other, they worked together, they socialized in each other’s homes, they had potluck dinners, they were honest with each other, and they got things done for Michigan and the country,” Debbie Dingell said.

President Ford’s daughter Susan Ford Bales also spoke at Sunday’s wreath-laying ceremony.

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