Wreath laying on Pres. Ford's birthday

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - A long standing tradition continued in Grand Rapids Saturday as family and friends of President Gerald Ford gathered at his burial site to remember the former president.

A wreath laying ceremony was held at the Ford Presidential Museum.

President Gerald R. Ford would have been 99 years old Saturday.

It was also one year ago on this day that the Ford family was gathered in Grand Rapids for another reason; saying their final goodbye to their mother, the late Betty Ford.

Betty Ford started the plan of remembering the late President Ford on July 14 with a gathering each year since the president's death.

"What's nice is all the memories. You get to see all the people who are connected in mom and dad's life growing up," President Ford's daughter Susan Ford Bales said.

The ceremony is in conjunction with the long-standing tradition in which the President of the United States sends a wreath to the tomb of each deceased president on that president's birthday. President Ford passed away on December 26, 2006.

While both Gerald and Betty Ford have passed away, today was just one of many ways that they're still a part of Grand Rapids.

"I think they're very much smiling down on this; the challenge is what do you do next year? I mean, we've got to start planning for next year. Next year will be his 100th birthday and so in the next twelve months, we will be discussing the celebration of his 100th birthday," Susan Ford Bales said.

On Friday, a luncheon was held in President Ford's honor at the J.W. Marriott. Former U.S. National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft spoke at the luncheon.