VFW holding drive-in poppy sale
Veterans are trying to keep their charitable work going in spite of having to close post doors and cancel fundraising events.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Fraser is selling brick pavers to raise money to help keep the post open, not only for veterans, but for residents and community groups that use it.
They are trying to do it in two ways – selling brick pavers and having an alternate kind of Buddy Poppy campaign.
“The Lt. Wood – Cpl. Reid VFW Post 6691 Friends and Family Path of Honor project was initiated in order to give all folks in our community an opportunity to offer respect, honor a loved one, and show support for our military, veterans and their families,” Mike Sand said. He is public information officer at the post.
The pavers are at the base of the post helicopter memorial at 17075 Anita Avenue. Vets recently refurbished the memorial.
“The project is open to anyone; including friends, families, businesses, veteran and fraternal organizations, schools and churches,” he said. “Support of this project will help the post achieve some badly needed repairs and improvements and at the same time honor the service and sacrifices of patriotic citizens.”
Pavers are $100 for the 4-inch by 8-inch size with 14 characters per line, and three lines. Pavers are $150 for an 8-inch by 8-inch for 14 characters per line, and five lines. People may pay by check, money order or credit card. For order forms, contact Sand at 586294-1450 or email rsandman1968@gmail.com.
Engraving the pavers may be delayed because businesses that do the engraving are deemed nonessential.
“But we are hopeful things will open up sooner rather than later,” he said.
The post is pretty quiet these days.
“A couple of people go over and cut the grass, fix the toilet, and sanitize everything. The post is not open of course because we are under the Michigan Liquor Control Commission guidelines, so we have to figure out how we are going to makes ends meet,” Sand said.
“Our commander John Hogan is submitting applications for small business loans for grants for our three employees – the quartermaster, clubroom manager and hall manager,” he said.
This time of the month of May would normally be Buddy Poppy Days for the VFW worldwide.
“Fraser VFW 6691 was formed in 1946. There have been Buddy Poppy campaigns here from the beginning,” JoAnne Rosseel said. She is in charge of the Buddy Poppy campaign for the post’s auxiliary.
“Up through 2019, our current campaigns included a small army of ‘streetwalkers’ who would stand on some corners with a canister and a fist full of poppies, and a mailing to our post and auxiliary members for donations. COVID-19 has put a stop to walking the streets. This has indeed put a crimp in our style. But thanks to the generosity of our members, the Buddy Poppy campaign will live for another year. Funds raised here are strictly used for the relief of our veterans and auxiliary members,” Rosseel said.
The auxiliary uses its relief fund for hospitalized members, funeral luncheons, and veterans and family support; the post also uses its relief fund for veterans and their families.
“There are more needy vets due to the pandemic,” Rosseel said.
Donors may send checks to: Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6691, 17075 Anita Ave., Fraser, MI 48026.
“Buddy Poppies are very important to our organization,” VFW Bruce Post 1146 commander Randell Shafer said. “Nationally, they put disabled veterans to work. Locally the funds raised help veterans in need due to financial complications.
“They call it Buddy
The VFW Lt. Wood – Cpl. Reid Post 6691is selling brick pavers for its Friends and Family Path of Honor at the base of the post helicopter memorial at 17075Anita Ave., Fraser. Revenue from pavers helps with post expenses, especially since vets cannot go out in public and collect for the VFW Buddy Poppy Days.
Poppy is because it’s for our buddies,” he said. “It’s a relief fund not only for needy vets, but also needy people in the community. Once it’s in that fund, it’s only used for that, not for utilities or anything else. We helped a young man who was moving from the west side to the east side for a better job opportunity. It helped him with a down payment on an apartment. We helped a young lady last year.
She was in a situation she needed to get away from. We gave her some money in the form of grocery store cards.”
He said others who have been identified to the post as in need have also received grocery store cards, and that the Buddy Poppy Fund has provided calling cards for deployed military families.
Residents can help the Buddy Poppy canister drive by coming to the post 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, contribute, and come away with a Buddy Poppy flower. The operation was also open on Thursday and Friday.
“We will have a tent in the front of the building with our volunteers. They can drop donations in the box and take a flower from a basket,” Shafer said. Motorists should come in the horseshoe driveway and up to the tent.
Donations are welcome any time at Veterans of Foreign Wars Bruce Post 1146, 28404 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores MI 48081. For more information, contact Shafer at 586-524-0449.
Vets keep pantry open
Although Vietnam Veterans
of America Chapter 154 does not have a post hall, it does have an office to maintain that houses a large, active food pantry for veterans. Currently, the pantry is only open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Veterans Support Center, 18025 15 Mile Road, Clinton Township; phone 586-776-9810.
Thinking ahead to Memorial
Day, people may order memorial brick pavers for the Eastpointe Veterans Memorial at 23200 Gratiot Ave., or the Macomb County Veterans Memorial – a Huey helicopter – at Freedom Hill County Park in Sterling Heights. Pavers are 4-inch-by-8-inch and are $50 for individuals and $100 for nonprofit organizations, three lines of 14 characters including spaces. Applications are available at the memorial sites, at the Veterans Support Center, or by download from vva154.com.
SH seeks vets to honor
The City of Sterling Heights canceled its traditional Memorial Day Parade. But it still wishes to honor veterans who live in Sterling Heights. Contact Marissa Russo, Community Relations digital content specialist, at Mrusso@sterling-heights. net.
Veterans Day parade is set
The Metropolitan Detroit Veterans Coalition is still planning to hold a Detroit Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 8 and celebrate the parade’s 15-year anniversary, and women veterans. Dignitaries expected to be there include: Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones, parade grand marshal and director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency Zaneta Adams (U.S. Army, National Guard and Reserve veteran) and the Women’s Army Corps Veterans Association’s Evelyn Kennedy.