The new documentary “Detroit: Our Greatest Generation” honors hundreds of local veterans, including Ray DeFiore of Independence Township.
“It’s excellent, a good idea ? it give us oldtimers some visibility,” said DeFiore, 83, who was drafted into the U.S. Army and served as a musician in Germany, 1946-1947, before returning to Michigan for a 42-year career with General Motors.
“We talked about how the filmmakers can make us look younger. We had fun doing it.”
The 90-minute film, directed and produced by Keith Famie of Visionalist Entertainment Productions, premieres 7 p.m., Dec. 13 at the Fox Theater in Detroit.
Developed over 16 months, it features interviews with veterans and their families, who reflect on how their service impacted the rest of their lives. Additionally, the film takes an in-depth look at Detroit’s role as the Arsenal of Democracy.
“It’s the celebration of an era, one that belongs to Detroit and was critically influential in the freedom Americans share in today,? said Famie. ‘The film tells the narrative of Detroit’s heroes like never before, while we are still able to hear the stories from the people who were there to experience them.?
DeFiore is featured along with veterans active in local senior softball leagues. A ballplayer all his life, he plays softball as well as volleyball in Independence Township and Detroit.
He and fellow veterans worked with Famie as well as Chuck Gaidica of Detroit Local 4 and Detroit Tigers hall-of-famer Al Kaline during filming.
“It was a great time,” DeFiore said.
A native of New York, he settled in Clarkston with his family, Joyce his wife and their sons Tony and Larry, because of its location between GM plants in Flint and Detroit. He retired 21 years ago.
The premiere event features WJR’s Paul W. Smith as MC, Mitch Ryder and Stewart Francke performing with the United States 338th Army Band. Also featured will be a special Andrews Sisters revue and the Cornerstone Concert Choir singing the National Anthem.
The film benefits the Michigan Chapter Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Yankee Air Museum. Tickets are $23 and $33. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. A one-hour version of the film will be shown on WDIV-TV with no commercial interruption, 8 p.m., Dec. 16, and 2 p.m., Dec. 25.