Volunteers place American flags on 55,000 graves at Great Lakes National Cemetery
Volunteers from North Oakland VFW Post 334 and others placed American flags on more than 55,000 graves at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly Township for Memorial Day.
Hundreds of volunteers showed up at Great Lakes National Cemetery (GLNC) on May 27 to place American Flags on more than 55,000 graves in time for Memorial Day. VFW Post 334 had Bob Mahan and Chuck Haskin there along with Auxiliary member Vicki Haskin. Each year in May, before Memorial Day, (except for COVID years) all across the country at each National Cemetery these American flags are placed in front of each headstone.
VFW Post 334 goes out the third Tuesday each month and performs Honor Guard duty. On
May 17, the Honor Guard performed the 21-gun-salute and Taps for eight different funerals during the day. During the year VFW Post 334 members go to GLNC for twice annual headstone cleaning, placing out the Wreaths at Christmas, and attending the Memorial Day and Veteran Day ceremonies as well as picking up the American flags after Memorial Day.
VFW Post members also attended the Memorial
Day ceremony at Lakeville Cemetery on May 28, the Memorial Day ceremony at GLNC May 29 and the Memorial Day ceremony at the Orion Veterans Memorial on May 30.
“Remember Memorial Day is for those that gave their life for this great country, for your Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” North Oakland VFW Post 334 Quartermaster/Adjutant Chuck Haskin said.
Post 334 is always looking for new members. Meetings are the second Tuesday each month at the Lakepoint Community Church, at 1550 W Drahner Road, Oxford. For more information about joining or learning more about the post and what they do, call post membership director Bob Mahan at 248-227-1619.
Upcoming events
• Great Lakes National Cemetery to host Open House Saturday, June 11, at 4200 Belford Road, Holly Township. Discover everything the cemetery has to offer our nation’s veterans. For more information, call 248-329-0386 and visit cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/ greatlakes.asp.
• Oakland Community College to host Veterans Career Resources Virtual
Workshop from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, June 9, for those transitioning from military to civilian life or who just want to learn how to leverage their military experience. Job and career resources are provided during the free online workshop. For more information, contact Jeff Arnold, Coordinator of Military & Veterans Services, Oakland Community College, email jlarnold@oaklandcc.edu or call 248-232-4337. Register at bit.ly/3xo66QH.
• Desert Angels to host a Miracle Box packing party for troops serving overseas from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at the Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club, 4770 Waterford Road, Clarkston. Donations for shipping are needed. For a complete list of requested items and more information, email louise@thedesertangel.org or call 248736-6403.
• Highland-White LakeMilford VFW Post 9914 to host a Steak and Rib Dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 10, and Auxiliary to host a Country Breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon, Sunday, June 12, at 3200 N. Duck Lake Road in Highland Twp. The cost of steak dinner is $16, ribs $16, combo $18, fish $12, All-ucan-eat breakfast $8. The post would like to increase its membership. For more information, call 248-8879914.
• Miracle Quilts for Our Wounded Troops to meet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at Independence Village, 701 Market Street, Oxford and from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, June 16, at UAW Local 5960, 180 Silver Bell Road, Lake Orion. Bring sewing machine, extension cord and basic sewing supplies. There is a new kit available to check out. Participants can check out one of the kits or use their own materials to construct a quilt. Sew at the meeting or at home. The group is always looking for new volunteers for this project. For more information, call Carole 248-321-8669.
• Military One Resource to host Michigan Military and Veteran Resource Sharing, virtual event at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 21. Registration is required at www. michigan.gov/mvaa. To learn more about resources for the military and veteran community, email April Clipper at april.clipper@ militaryonesource.com.
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.