By Sharon Peterson, Mission Resources Director at the Carls Family YMCA
This past Thursday, 22 Veterans went to Lansing to take part in a special ceremony spearheaded by Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Kowall. This event was a Welcome & Thank You Celebration for Michigan Vietnam Era Veterans and their families. There were people on board to help with VA matters, The Michigan War Dog Memorial Group was represented as well as others. There was a pinning ceremony where each Veteran who served during the Vietnam Era received a pin and were thanked for their service and officially welcomed home. There was music, food and a great amount of fellowship among the veterans and their families.
Sponsored by the Carls Family YMCA, the Veterans and their families were able to ride in comfort and visit among themselves while Larry Ray provided the bus from Hillside Chauffeured Services. Ray was willing to help out because he said we need to help care for the Veterans. Ray operates a local transportation company in Milford. The Carls Family YMCA preschool enrichment class made a thank you poster and wished our Veterans well as they were ready to leave.
The Carls Family YMCA has a robust Veterans group that gets together to play pickle ball, work out in the wellness center and some participate in personal training sessions. Fred Troke, 82 years young, says coming to the Y is the best part of his day.
This event was organized by William Brown, Carls Family YMCA Veterans and First Responder Advocate. Brown indicated it was a great fall day to travel to Lansing and be with others who also served. Brown, a retired Marine, is a member of the Carls Family YMCA Board and is always eager to bring programs and services to the Veterans at the Y.