North Oakland VFW Post members attend Orion Oaks Elementary School Day of Service
North Oakland VFW Post 334 members attended Orion Oaks Elementary School Day of Service and shared what the post does for the Orion Township community.
On May 12 VFW Post 334 had nine members attend the Orion Oaks Elementary School in Orion Township.
To start the day, the students had an assembly in their gym to kick off their Day of Service activities (Grades K-5). VFW Post 334 members were invited to sit in chairs that were lined up in front of the assembly and joined with them in saying The Pledge of Allegiance.
The students then sang their school song and heard about what was happening that day. VFW Post 334 Cmdr. Jim Hubbard spoke to the assembly and shared what the post does for the Orion Township community.
The students and teachers then headed out to their classes while the post members moved to the school cafeteria where the lunch tables were set up.
Then the 5th grade class and their teachers came marching into the cafeteria, bringing along a collection of board games. The children sat down at the tables, with one to three students per veteran and introduced themselves and selected a board game to play with the veteran. The games included: Sorry, Select 4, checkers, chess, and
other games. Over the next two hours the kids played multiple games with the veterans while learning from them what they did for the community and about their military service. As time was running out, the veterans gave each of the 5th graders a small American flag, a patriotic bracelet and a Health and Safety book.
“Everyone had a great time,” said post Quartermaster/Adjutant Chuck Haskin.
For more information, call Cmdr. James Hubbard at 248-496-1213.
Michigan National Guard receives $26 million in federal funding to modernize facilities
The Michigan National Guard received $26 million in federal funding to continue modernizing facilities used by the Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG) to address inequities
that exist in the facilities provided to Michigan’s women service members.
According to a press release on May 8, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) announced that he secured nearly $26 million for the National Guard Bureau to modernize armories across Michigan to ensure they have adequate facilities for women service members. At the time many of these buildings were constructed, the structure and composition of the MIARNG force was primarily male and facilities like restrooms and showers, were designed with that in mind. Today, nearly 1,500 women serve in the MIARNG. However, very few of the facilities used for drill and other activities have been updated to reflect women’s needs. The modernization project will provide for necessary improvements including new toilet and shower facilities and lactation rooms.
Peters also led a call for the National Guard Bureau to match the $55 million allocated by Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the State of Michigan for modernization efforts.
“The women who serve in the MIARNG deserve access to facilities that meet their needs and allow them to focus on their training and missions,” said Gov. Whitmer.
“Thanks to Senator Peters’ advocacy, we have secured resources to modernize our military facilities for women service members, building on efforts we have made at the state level. Let’s keep working together to modernize our facilities and ensure the Michiganders who serve have what they need to get the job done.”
For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/ dmva.
Upcoming events
• Birmingham/Troy American Legion Post 14 to host Jenifer Bogues Fundraiser -Fighting Ovarian Cancer at 3 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at 1340 W. Maple Road, Troy. Wheelbarrow of Cheer and 55” TV with soundbar raffles. Notch’Yo Nachos Food truck from 3 to 8 p.m. Live music, and 50/50 raffles all day. Accepting donations of raffle prizes or money. Open to all. For more information and to donate, call Michelle Hensen 586201-7585 or Karen Parker 248-318-1566.
• Boats4Vets to host
12th Annual Outing on Lake St. Clair. The outing will be at the Algonac VFW Hall with boat rides from the Harbour Club at 10 a.m. Saturday June 17. Free to all veterans and their spouses or caretaker. Attendees must RSVP by June 5 to Forrest Walker at 810-512-4660.
• Royal Oak American Legion Post 253 to host Music Trivia at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 30, at 1505 N. Main St. For more information, call 248-5460490.
• Oxford American Legion Post 108 to host Euchre from noon to 3 p.m. Thursday, June 1, and Fish Dinners from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, June 2, at 130 E. Drahner Road, Oxford. Fish dinners range from $10 to $13. For more information, call 248-628-9081.
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.