Southfield Veterans' Commission
Serving all Veterans in the City of Southfield
The board members of the Southfield Veterans' Commission can be reached at
248-796-4VET (248-796-4838) or in writing at
Southfield Veterans' Commission
City of Southfield
PO Box 2055
Southfield MI 48037-2055
southfieldvets@cityofsouthfield.com
"Monday, August 16, 2010" The Mid-Michigan All Airborne
Chapter, 82nd Airborne Division Association, will host an event in Lansing to
celebrate the first mass paratroop drop on August 16, 1940. Equipment will be on
display, etc. For more information click here.
"Friday, August 20, 2010" The Development of Vietnam Endeavors (DOVE)
is hosting its annual fund raising dinner at the Maumee (OH) Pinnacle Banquet
Center. The fund is used for humanitarian assistance in the country of Vietnam.
More information about this event can be found at http://www.dovefund.org.
"Sunday, August 22, 2010" A fund raiser will be held in Rochester to
support the efforts of producer Keith Famie on his latest project, "Our Vietnam
Generation." Keith produced the Detroit film on Our Greatest Generation that was
seen at the Fox Theater last year and on PBS. More information can be found at
http://www.ourvietnamgeneration.com.
"Labor Day Weekend, September 2-5, 2010" The 1/2 size Vietnam Memorial
Wall will be in Clinton Township, at the Civic Center on Romeo Plank Road, for
the entire weekend. Events are scheduled every day that the wall is up. More
information can be found by contacting Mary (586) 723-8008 or Joe (586)
723-8045.
"Saturday, September 18, 2010" Selfridge AFNG base will be hosting an
Appreciation Day and dinner for all military retirees from 8AM to 3PM. This
event is limited to the first 600 reponses. You must contact the Retiree
Activity Office at Selfridge at 586-239-5580 or email them at selfrao@greatlakes.net.
"Saturday, September 18, 2010" Rebel Jesus in Clio will be hosting its
annual Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund (CFSRF) fundraiser raffle and
motorcycle rally with over $3500 in goods & services from local businesses.
More information about the CFSRF can be found by clicking here. More information about this
rally and local fundraiser can be found by clicking
here.
"Saturday, September 18, 2010" The State of Michigan Disabled American
Veterans (DAV) is hosting a golf outing at Selfridge Air National Guard base.
There will be a shotgun kickoff at 9AM. The cost is $70, which includes 18 holes
of golf and a steak dinner. More information can be found at http://www.davmembersportal.org/mi/Lists/Calendar/Attachments/53/SKMBT_C22010020419460.pdf
"October, 2010" The Women Veterans Council of Michigan will be hosting
several events around the state for women veterans. Topics covered will be
education, employment, housing, medical care, small business, etc. These
seminars are free, last from 8:30AM to 3PM, and lunch is provided. Dates are:
October 12th in Marquette, October 14th in St. Helen, October 18th in
Saginaw, October 21st in Grand Rapids, and October 22nd in Milford. More
information and to register call 517-373-3130 or 517-335-6523.
"Saturday, November 6, 2010" The Metro Detroit Veterans Coalition will
once again be hosting the annual Detroit Veterans Day Parade in downtown
Detroit. This years' parade looks to be bigger and better then ever. More
information can be obtained at the MDVC website at http://metrodetvetcoalition.t35.com/parade%20info/.
"Wednesday, November 10, 2010" The Paralyzed Veterans of American
(PAV) is hosting is 7th annual Salute to Veterans Gala at the Vista Tech Center
at Schoolcraft College, starting at 6PM. Dinner is $55 per person. More
information can be found at http://michiganpva.org/annual-events
"Assistance for jobless Veterans"
Are you a veteran and need a job? The State of Michigan has a
veterans employment specialist located right here in Southfield at the John
Grace Center, 21030 Indian St. His primary function is to assist Southfield
veterans in finding a job. Contact Mr. Mark Meadows at 248-796-4569 or email
him at meadowsm@michigan.gov.
"Free Veteran Legal Clinic" Are you having issues with the VA? Need
some legal help with all the VA paperwork? The University of Detroit-Mercy
offers free legal services for veterans. For more information contact U of D-M
at 313-596-9854 or email them at costelma@udmercy.edu.
"Veterans History Project" The Southfield Veterans' Commission is
currently working with the Library of Congress and the Southfield Public Library
gathering interviews for the American History Series. We are asking all
veterans to share their stories with everyone across the country. Currently
interviews are being done every Wednesday afternoon at the Southfield Library.
The veteran also receives a copy of the interview for their own family record on
DVD. You do not need to be a Southfield resident to participate in this
program. Veterans wishing to be interviewed need to contact us to schedule a date
and time at the above phone number or email address so that the necessary
paperwork can get started. You will need to sign a release form for the Library
of Congress, the Southfield Public Library, complete a bio form, etc. As of
June 2010 196 vets have been interviewed. More information on the Veterans
History Project can be found at www.loc.gov/vets
"Veterans Aid & Assistance Program"
Are you taking care of a veteran? Have a veteran in a nursing home?
Have the spouce of a veteran in a nursing home or taking care of at home? A
little known program of the VA might be able to help. VA Program S-38 might be
able to supply to you up to $20,000 a year toward the care of a veteran or
spouce, or widow of a veteran. Naturally there are qualifications to meet, more
then can be covered here. Details on this program and assistance on how to
apply can be found at www.veteranaid.org/apply.php.
"New GI Bill" The Veterans Education
Act of 2008 was passed last summer. This affects all veterans who have served
since 9/11/01 and goes into affect on August 1, 2009. The American Legion is
sponsoring a web site to provide information to current veterans on what this
new program will provide. To find out more about the New GI Bill go to www.mygibill.org.
"Veteran Housing Project" Are you a
disabled or a low income veteran and having problems cutting the weeds in your
backyard, fixing a leaking sink, need a wheelchair ramp installed, etc. The
Oakland County chapter of the Rebuilding Together program may be able to help.
Their volunteers will come to your house, cut your weeds, fix that leak, build
you a wheelchair ramp. For more information goto http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/content/organization/detail/743/
or call Mr. Jerry McKay at 248-889-5450.
"Social Security Benefits for Wounded
Veterans" If you are a disabled veteran, and receiving benifts from the
VA, you may still be entitled to extra benifits from the Social Security
Administration. For more information check with the Social Security
Administration local office or goto: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/woundedwarriors/
"Social Security Benifits for Vets prior to
1967" In many cases veterans that served prior to 1967 did not get full
credit for their service with the Social Security Administration. If you are
retiiring be sure to take a copy of your DD-214 to the SSA office. If you are
retired take a copy of your discharge papers to the SSA to get your earning
record corrected. This might mean more per month for you.
"Free Tuition for Returning Vets"
Western Michigan University's trustees have initiated a Returning Veterans
Tuition Assistance Program designed to help recently discharged veterans with the cost of college. The
program waives tuition for the first
semester on campus. The current cost for a semester of tuition for a typical full time student is $3,088.
Eligible veterans must begin school at Western Michigan University within six months of discharge from
active duty for purposes other than training. Contact Western Michigan
University for more information.
"Combat Veterans Program" The John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in
Detroit will soon start a program to aid combat veterans from WW II, Korea,
Vietnam, Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan wars. This support will include
assistance with readjustment to life after deployment, support groups,
assessment and treatment of PTSD, couple and family counseling, etc. If you feel
this program might be of benefit to you or a family member please call the
program coordinator Ms Kelly White at 313-576-1000, ext 63519, or program social
worker Ms Christina Hall at 313-576-1000, ext 64962.
