Orion Veterans Memorial unveils award presented in honor of the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier
The Orion Veterans Memorial unveiled an award, Dec. 3, presented by the Almont John Crawford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in honor of the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier.
The award was presented by Mary Blackard and Sue Meyer at the 2021 Veterans Day Ceremony at Kensington Church and is now displayed at the Orion Veterans Memorial by their Victory Garden. VFW Post 334 Honor Guard was in attendance to lead the group with the Pledge of Allegiance and participate in the unveiling.
The plague was installed on a pedestal and put in the victory garden that was donated in 2015 and is maintained by the Orion Township Home Depot store. Home Depot employee volunteer Alana Hart maintains the garden all summer and distributes the vegetables to veterans in need.
For more information about the Almont John Crawford DAR chapter, visit www.johncrawford.michdar.net.
For more information about Home Depot honoring veterans, visit www. homedepot.com/c/the_ home_depot_foundation. For more information about the Orion Veterans Memorial, call Memorial Grounds Manager Bob Watros at 248-212-9081.
MVAA expands emergency grants to peacetime veterans 65 and older
For the first time in its 75-year history, the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund (MVTF) will provide emergency assistance to eligible peacetime-era veterans 65 years and older under a new pilot program.
Similar to its Emergency Grant Program for wartime-era veterans, the MVTF’s 65+ Peacetime Program allows veterans who served in a peacetime era, have at least 180 days of service and were discharged under honorable conditions to apply for emergency assistance.
The assistance helps veterans overcome unforeseen situations causing a temporary or short-term financial emergency or hardship that a grant will resolve and for which the applicant can demonstrate the ability to meet future expenses. Covered expenses under the
65+ Program include utility bills, home repairs, and rent and mortgage assistance.
Veterans interested in applying for the 65+ Peacetime Program should contact the MVTF county committee serving the county they reside in or fill out and submit the emergency assistance form available on the MVAA’s website. Veterans can call 1-800-MICHVET to be connected to their county veteran representative.
For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/ MVAA.
Michigan Veteran Homes announces ‘Make a Veteran Smile Campaign’
Michigan Veteran Homes’ “Make a Veteran Smile Campaign” brings joy to veteran members around the holidays and encourages Michigan residents to spread holiday cheer by sending a card or letter to veteran members.
Some of the local holiday functions members would attend have been suspended due to the pandemic and that can lead to feelings of isolation around the holidays. Members are always excited to receive cards or letters especially when the sender shares a little about themselves or their family. For some members who do not have close friends or family, this might be the only message they receive around the holidays.
Cards and letters can be addressed to ATTN: Make a Vet Smile and mailed to:
• Michigan Veteran Homes at Chesterfield Township at 47901 Sugarbush Road, Chesterfield Township, MI 48047
• Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids at 3000 Monroe Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49505
• Michigan Veteran Homes D.J. Jacobetti at 425 Fisher St., Marquette, MI 49855
For more information, please visit: www.michigan. gov/mvh.
Upcoming events
• Farmington GrovesWalker
American Legion Post 346 to host a Dinner at the Post Fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13, at 31775 Grand River Avenue. For more information, call 248-9394910.
• Clarkston American Legion Post 377 to host Bingo from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, Blood Drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15 and Trivia Night from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 16, at 4819 Mary Sue Blvd. Bingo needs volunteers and food donations. For more information, call 248-679-9301.
• Royal Oak Frank Wendland American Legion Post 253 to host Chicken Creole dinner at 5 p.m. and Karaoke at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, at 1505 N. Main St. Dinner cost is $14. For more information, call 248-5460490.
The Oakland Press is interested in all veterans events in Oakland County. Please send information in the body of an email with subject line “Veterans Affairs” to Sharon Longman at sslstart@ aol.com. Allow two weeks’ notice for scheduled events and include a phone number for readers to call for more information.