The Veterans Crisis Line is staffed by caring, qualified crisis responders who are there to help. Many of these responders are veterans themselves.
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| Chapter member LTC. (Retired) Chuck Kettles received the Medal of Honor in July 2016 |
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LTC Charles S. Kettles (ret) Passed Away On January 21, 2019. Rest In Peace My Friend, Rest In Peace...
We lost another hero on December 23, 2021, Lloyd Lee (above). Click Here To Find Out If You Qualify For Health Care At The VA As A Veteran.
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President McCrumb's Message -November 2023
Four or five years ago Lloyd Lee and Al Merritt were discussing how to go about getting a stretch of I-94 renamed to honor Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans. They asked Ypsilanti Township Supervisor, Brenda Stumbo, for guidance and she put them in touch with our State House Representative Jimmy Wilson. Mr. Wilson got the ball rolling and the bill passed in both the House and Senate and was awaiting the governor's signature.
On October 19th, Al Merritt, Eric Downie, Jon Luker, Wendy Hibbits and I traveled to Lansing to witness Governor Whitmer's signing of the bill that renamed I-94 between US 23 and Rawsonville Road to Washtenaw County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. I presented the Governor with two Chapter Challenge Coins, one for her and the other for the Lt. Governor. She seem to know the meaning of challenge coins and stated that seeing how she didn't have one with her she owed us a beer. Fredo suggested it would probably cost her more than one.
What I find sad is the time it took for this to move through the legislative process because Lloyd missed seeing it come to fruition.
October 20th we were finally able to present Stan Harrison's 2022 President's Appreciation Certificate to Steve Larkins. Steve at the time was the Store Manage at the Ann Arbor Home Depot and arranged to have many Home Depot employees at our annual Spring Cleanup at the Memorial. They removed the old shed and assembled a new shed, planted annuals and perennials, trimmed the bushes spread the bark ground cover and left us with several yard tools. The Ann Arbor Home Depot has been a continued supporter of our Memorial projects over the years and we are forever grateful!
We had two new members at our October meeting. Dr. Bernhard Muller of Milan and William (Bill) Coleman of Dexter. Welcome Home Bernhard and Bill. Both are Army veterans. With these two new members our head count is now 216.
Our State Council President and Region 5 Director John Rilling III is scheduled to attend our November meeting to field questions and discuss the resolution of our national organization as well as our future as a local chapter. This should help answer many questions on our path moving forward.
If the newsletter gets publish in time, John K's Christmas packing party is November 5th, 1500 hours at the Post. As in the past arrive early or you will miss out on packing a box or two.
Arf,
V
The first five days after a weekend are always the hardest.