VFW Post 9914 hosts WWII and Korean Veterans dinner in Highland Twp.
Highland-White LakeMilford VFW Post 9914 hosted a World War II and Korean Veterans Appreciation Dinner “Veterans Honoring Their Heroes from the Past,” Dec. 5.
Post Cmdr. Tom Oltesvig said, “We had six veterans present and honored two recently deceased WWII and Korean War Veterans. Our oldest vet was a spry 98-years old and the youngest was 89-years old. We were entertained by the The WhatAbouts. They sang WWII Era and early to mid-1950’s music. Dinner was great and a great time was had by all.”
The veterans were presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for Service in honor of their service, and they could bring two guests.
“We are always seeking new members. If you served in a war zone, Vietnam, Haiti, Panama,
Iraq, Afghanistan or the Global War on Terror, consider membership in the VFW-Veterans of Foreign Wars. If your brother, sister, mother, father, grandfather, or grandmother served in a war zone, consider membership in our Auxiliary,” Oltesvig said.
Post 9914 to host a Country Breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 9, at 3200 N. Duck Lake Road in Highland Twp.
For more information, call 248-887-9914 or stop by.
Operation Santa Claus
Berkley American Legion Post 374 recently conducted Operation Santa Claus. Post members prepared 25 to 30 Christmas food baskets for veterans in need. Each basket had a ham, turkey, fresh fruits, vegetables, and bread.
The post treasury donated funds.
Berkley Schools donated funds which allowed Santa’s Helpers to buy a $50 Meijer gift certificate for each basket. The baskets were delivered Dec. 21 and 22. Santa’s Helpers were thanked for making the season joyful for the vets. Post 374 is at 2079 W. 12 Mile Road, Berkley. For more information, call 248-542-7668.
Michigan Youth Challenge Academy
The Michigan Youth Challenge Academy (MYCA) held a graduation ceremony for 107 cadets of class #45 on Dec. 18.
The voluntary academy is a cost-free alternative education program which offers at-risk youth the opportunity to change their future. Of the 107 anticipated graduates, 91 are earning their high school diploma while the remaining cadets will earn their General Education Development certificate or continue their academic pursuits towards earning their high school diploma.
As part of the curriculum, cadets participate in drill and ceremony formations, meet physical fitness standards, receive classroom instruction and participate in community service. Candidates for the academy are 16-18 years old and are at risk of not graduating high school. Because of the voluntary nature of the program, applicants cannot be mandated to attend by parents or the justice system. The program is free to participants and there is no requirement for military obligation.
Class #46 will begin on Jan. 16, 2022. To begin the application process, interested youth and parents are invited to attend an upcoming mandatory virtual orientation. To schedule an orientation, call Frank Vasquez 269-9681397.
Visit www.michigan. gov/myca for more information.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall fundraiser
A fundraiser to bring the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall to Holly for the first time from Aug. 3 to 8, 2022, is sponsored by Holly American Legion Post 149 and the Holly Veterans Resource Center.
The wall is a smaller replica of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The names of 58,281 of US Service personnel who were killed or died in Vietnam are etched on the Wall. A Welcome Home Reunion for all veterans will be on
Aug. 6.
A Dinner-Improv fundraiser starts at 7 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2022, at the Vault, at 202 S. Saginaw, in downtown Holly. The Clarkston Village Players will provide the entertainment with an Improv program and some audience participation games. Cari Cucksey and her staff will provide the dinner and there will be a cash bar. Tickets are $40 each and $60 per couple and can be purchased by calling Joe Mishler at 810-348-9960, Rick Powers at 248-4590058, or Amy Hillman at 248-240-1888 or at Blumz of Holly, 114 S. Saginaw, 248-532-0532.
It costs $10,000 to bring the Wall to Holly plus associated additional costs.
Donations are needed and checks may be made out to the Holly American Legion Post 149, memo lineWall and mailed to PO
Box 159, Holly, MI 48442 or dropped off at the Holly Area Veterans Resource Center, 300 East St. Volunteers are needed for the project.
• Royal Oak American Legion Post 253 to host a New Year’s Eve Celebration at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 31, at 1505 N. Main St. Live music featuring the Motor City Wranglers from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The event includes appetizers, midnight champagne toast and pizza. Cost is donations. For more information, call 248-546-0490.
• Birmingham/Troy American Legion Post 14 to host a New Year’s Eve Party, Friday, Dec. 31, at 1340 W. Maple Road, Troy. An Italian-style buffet dinner is at 7 p.m. Live music featuring The Kroon Band is at 8:30 p.m. $20 cost includes dinner and one drink ticket and champagne toast at midnight. Call the post to reserve tickets, at 248-362-2077.
The Oakland Press is interested in all veterans events in Oakland County. Please send info 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.