Free Transportation Within Washtenaw County For Veterans
Washtenaw Count Veterans Affairs is sponsoring free rides for veterans to any destination within Washtenaw County for essential services. Accommodations can be made for the handicapped, and those with service animals, walkers, and canes. Services such as doctor's appointments, auto repair shops if your vehicle is in for repairs, homeless visits to the VA and its outbuildings, etc. Call (734) 973-4540 to book a ride, preferably a couple of days in advance. One of their personnel will answer the call and book a ride for you.
VA To Pay For All Emergency Mental Health Care
Starting Jan. 17, 2023 veterans in acute suicidal crisis will be able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care at no cost – including inpatient or crisis residential care for up to 30 days and outpatient care for up to 90 days. Veterans do not need to be enrolled in the VA system to use this benefit. Read more by clicking HERE.
POST 46 CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF SERVICE
On August 30 the Ann Arbor American Legion Post 46 celebrated 100 years of service to veterans and the local community. The event took place at the Washtenaw Community College's Morris Lawrence Building. The evening started with member Horace Frazier playing guitar and Hors D'Oeuvres being served at 1700 hrs. All twenty-five tables were sponsored by various organizations and individuals. At 1800 hrs opening remarks were made by our Judge Advocate Beverly List. Commander Scott Nichols made introductions followed by the Posting of Colors by the Navy Sea Cadets, and opening prayer by our Chaplain Bob Bull. Vice Commander Dave Draper then read the Missing Man Table Ceremony which was followed by Taps being played via a video on the overhead screen. Our meals were then served. The culinary staff at the college prepared great meals with choices of steak, salmon, chicken, and vegetarian. The food was plated well and was delicious.
Rebecca Spencer was our guest speaker who delivered an emotional speech. Afterward, U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell, State of Michigan Representative Jason Morgan, and American Legion Department Chaplain Norman Soli presented certificates of acknowledgment of our 100-year anniversary. Then a table Legion trivia game was played, awards were presented by Cmdr Nichols, and two 50/50 drawings were made. Multiple positive comments were made after the ceremony ended as guests packed up to leave. This was certainly a very memorable event.
Click HERE to see more pictures. Click HERE to see a related article on page 18 in the October MI Legionnaire.
SafeHouse Purple Run Donation
On Wednesday, September 13, Commander Nichols presented a donation check to the Ann Arbor SafeHouse Center. Executive Director Christine Watson received the $500 donation on behalf of the Center. This was part of our annual donation to help keep our community free of domestic violence and sexual assault. Our post supports the annual Purple Run fundraiser not only with financial donations but also with participation in the run itself.
September 11 Remembrance
Post 46 Presented its annual 9/11 Remembrance event again this year at the Ann Arbor Veterans Memorial Park. Several members were present to help remember the victims of the terrorist attacks on the twin towers in New York. Cmdr Nichols presented a speech and two of our members placed a wreath while a bagpiper played Amazing Grace. The event closed with personal testimonies of several of our members of where they were when the towers were hit.
MVAA Roundtable Discussion
Members of the Post attended a roundtable discussion on August 9 hosted by Washtenaw Community College and led by MVAA Director Hollier and Representative Morgan. The discussion centered around the issue of homelessness and housing insecurity in Washtenaw County. Rep Morgan had two million dollars inserted in the recent state budget to specifically address this issue
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Stuff The Bus
Commander Scott Nichols presents a donation to Kari Dorr, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor's office, and Stuff The Bus Volunteer Coordinator for the United Way of Washtenaw County. Ann Arbor Schools provided a bus at two locations near Target Stores, and the Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation provided tents, tables, chairs, and water for the volunteers.
The supplies were delivered to area schools who applied to be part of the program. Those schools are Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ypsilanti Community Schools, Milan Schools, Whitmore Lake Schools, and Lincoln Consolidated Schools.
VET FEST 2023
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Cmdr Nichols Grilling |
Dept Cmdr Mohlman Picking The Raffle Tickets |
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| Part Of The Military Display | Chinook And Crew | |
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| Local Band | Face Painted Girl |
Post 46 participated in Vet Fest 2023 which was hosted by Washtenaw Community College. We saw many vets who were interested in joining our post and we referred several to veteran service officers for help with issues they had. The event had a military equipment display, 40- 50 veteran service organizations, burgers and dogs, kids' play areas, and a live band. Great day and the mission was accomplished
Membership Award
Post 46 was proud to receive the Membership Award from the Department of Michigan at the Winter Conference that was held at the Crown Plaza in Lansing, Michigan. Department Commander Marilyn Britton and 1st Vice Brian Mohlman presented the award to Post 46 Commander Dave Draper. The award is for the post attaining the 100% membership goal that was set by Legion National. Thanks to the Post 46 membership team we actually reached 108%. Nice going team!! Keep up the great work.
Lifetime Service Award
At our January member meeting, we were proud to honor one of our members, Mark Lindke. We presented him with a Lifetime Service Award (R) and American Legion Medal of Merit- gold level (L). The medal is the highest award available from the American Legion. Linke served during the Vietnam era in the U.S. Army. He is a 42 member of the American Legion, Director Emeritus of Fisher House Michigan, and a volunteer with Buddy to Buddy for seven years. Many attended our meeting to support Lindke including Executive Director of Fisher House Michigan Kate Melcher, President of Fisher House Michigan Mark Palmucci, Fisher House Ann Arbor Manager April LaRock, Lindke's wife and children, and others.
Post 46 Receives Fisher House Patriot Award
On August 11 Commander Dave Draper and Vice Commander Scott Nichols accepted an award from Fisher House on behalf of our post for the post's large financial contribution to the construction of the Ann Arbor facility. 
It was a 
Patriots Award trophy shown here on the right. Several other individuals and organizations also received the same award for their financial donations to Fisher House for the construction of the Ann Arbor facility. The event was held at Yankee Air Museum. The evening started with drinks, hors-d'oeuvres, mingling with the attendees, and touring the museum. Then light food was served. After that, the awards were presented. The National Fisher House President David Coker was the emcee and provide the opening speech. Then the Assistant Director of the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center said a few words. The evening ended with some inspiring words from Fisher House Michigan Executive Director Kate Melcher and the presentation of a $500,000 check to Fisher House for the construction of the new Detroit Fisher House. Because of limited space on the property that they purchased, Fisher House has decided to build a 20-suite facility instead of 16. The awards were intended to be presented shortly after the Ann Arbor facility opened but due to COVID it was delayed to the present.
As worn, tattered American flags need to be replaced, or as American Legion posts need flags to place on veterans' graves for Memorial Day, Emblem Sales advises to order early and please be patient with the time of delivery. Emblem Sales is shipping flag orders as soon, and quickly, as production is received.
The purchase of gravesite flags, as well as other outdoor American, military, POW/MIA, and state flags, flagpoles, and accessories can be made through American Legion Emblem Sales at americanlegionflags.com.
When you purchase your flag(s) and designate Post 46 at checkout, our post earns rewards that allow us to offset part of the cost of future purchases that we make.
Ann Arbor VA Medical Center Food Distribution
Partnering with Food Gatherers, the VAMC started a food distribution bi-monthly event where veterans in need of food can drive up to the front of the VAMC and pick up boxes of food items. You will have to show some sort of proof that you are a veteran. The food will be available every month on the first and third Thursdays from 10 am to 12 pm. At their first event, they passed out around 40 boxes of food. More recently they loaded up 52 vehicles.
Veterans Memorial Park Bench
One of the two benches at the Veterans Memorial Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan now has a new plaque memorializing its namesake (and former Legion Post 46 member) Cpl Erwin Prieskorn. Cpl Prieskorn was Ann Arbor, Michigan's first WWI casualty.
Guitars For Vets
The Ann Arbor Guitars for Vets is a national organization that helps veterans with PTSD cope through music. Students meet once a week for ten weeks to learn the art of playing a guitar. At the end of the ten weeks, the students receive a free acoustic guitar. The organization normally meets at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center but because of COVID, they are currently meeting at the Ann Arbor VFW Post 423. Click on the logo at the left to see more pictures.
Space Force veterans and the active-duty military now welcome in the American Legion
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n the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act was signed by the president in 2019 and became Public Law 116-92, the Space Force was added to Section 101(a)(4) of Title 10, which now reads: "(4) The term 'armed forces' means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. "Since Section 21703 stipulates only "Armed Forces" and U.S. Code now includes the Space Force in its definition, no actions are required by The American Legion to accept Space Force servicemembers into the organization.
(From The American Legion Magazine)
Check out a unique look at Veterans Memorial Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Here is presented a "birdseye" view of the flag and flagpole that was installed last year. The project was financed by American Legion Post 46, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 423, and the City of Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation Department.
FOOD INSECURITIES?
Need food in these trying times. No one should go hungry. Click HERE to see a list of food pantries in Washtenaw County. This list is provided by Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor.
Landmark Presidential Signing of the POW-MIA Flag Act
Law now requires the POW/MIA flag to be displayed whenever the American flag is displayed on prominent federal properties, including the White House, U.S. Capitol, World War II Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, every national cemetery, the buildings containing the official offices of the Secretaries of State, Defense, and Veterans Affairs, Office of the Director of the Selective Service System, each major military installation, each Department of Veterans Affairs medical center, and each U.S. Postal Service post office.
Read more here POW/MIA Flag Act
Congress Approves LEGION Act
7/23: The U.S. House passed the bipartisan LEGION Act on Tuesday, extending the recognized wartime era back to Dec. 7, 1941.
The LEGION Act — Let Everyone Get Involved in Opportunities for National Service Act — fills in the gaps of war eras and redefines The American Legion’s membership eligibility dates, beginning with the bombing of Pearl Harbor and continuing until it is determined the United States is no longer in a state of war.
President Trump is expected to sign Senate bill S.504 into law later this week. When it becomes law, the legislation opens the door for hundreds of thousands of veterans to access American Legion programs and benefits for which they previously had not been eligible.
