Veteran Resource Center
Come out to the Center to enjoy camaraderie with other veterans, get assistance with veteran-related issues, play games, have donuts and coffee in the morning, and typically dogs and brats around lunchtime.
The Center is open on Wednesday and Saturday from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm. The Center is located at the VFW Post 423, 3230 S. Wagner Road, between Waters and Ellsworth Roads, Ann Arbor Michigan. Click HERE to go to their website.
Free Transportation Within Washtenaw County For Veterans
Our American Legion Post, in cooperation with AARP and Feonix Mobility, is sponsoring free rides for veterans to any destination within Washtenaw County for essential services. Accommodations can be made for the handicapped, 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. Our Post strives to serve veterans and the active-duty military in whatever form it takes. This service has been extended for an additional six months, which will take us to September 2022. Call (734) 707-7785 to book a ride, preferably a couple of days in advance.
President Biden Signs PACT Act
President Biden ushered in sweeping changes for millions of veterans exposed to toxic fumes by signing the PACT Act in a ceremony at the White House on Aug. 10. Read the article by clicking HERE. It will not be a quick fix and will probably take quite a while to implement.
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.
2022 Boys Nation President Tamarus Darby Jr.
Post 46 sponsored a young man named Tamarus Darby Jr. to Boys State from Washtenaw County in Michigan. Near his completion, he was elected as the new President to Boys Nation. Tamarus attends Washtenaw International High School. At our August meeting, he was a guest and introduced himself and thanked our members for sponsoring him. He has lofty political aspirations which include being a U.S. Representative and later, hopefully, President of the United States. Our post congratulated him, wished him the best of luck in his future endeavors, and we gave him a small donation to offset his fuel costs for upcoming visits to other high schools in Washtenaw County to make students aware of the Boys State program.
Post 46 Donates to Staples Veterans Hope House In Ann Arbor
Post 46 made a donation to the Salvation Army's Staples Veterans Hope House. The Hope House temporarily houses homeless veterans, currently up to eleven vets. The House was originally named the Staples Center and was located near the U of M. The funds will help future plans of upgrading the existing building and possibly, in the future, expansion to serve more veterans.
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VetFest Ann Arbor
On July 23 VCAT9 and Washtenaw Community College sponsored a VetFest at the college. Many veteran-related agencies and veteran organizations were present to help veterans receive any help they might need. Many veterans showed up and did receive the help they were looking for. Our post was able to refer a few vets to the proper agencies and also picked up a few new members in the process. There was entertainment for the many kids who came out, lots of hotdogs, chips, cookies, and popcorn to eat, entertainment by a live band, and a drawing for several different prizes.
Current supply chain issues and ongoing production setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic are causing order shipment delays of U.S. flag orders from American Legion Emblem Sales.
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 a time of delivery due to the setbacks. 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) through Emblem Sales and designate Post 46 at the end of your sale, 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 by-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 Thursday 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. Legion Post 46 has committed to helping on the first Thursday of each month.
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
Whe
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.
Comments From The Ann Arbor Legion Post 46 Commander Dave Draper
Spring has sprung and another year begins as we become a little more active. COVID is still playing a small part in keeping us from reaching out to the VA and Fisher House here in Ann Arbor. But, we continue our journey in helping veterans and active-duty military in whatever way we can.
We have been a little busier over the last few months with increasing events. We have donated to and held a food drive for Food Gatherers where we were able to collect many pounds of goods that will be distributed to the needy. Our Post continues to co-host the VRC, opening the post doors on Wednesdays and Saturdays to veterans who want to come out and socialize with other veterans, drink a little coffee, play some pool, and darts and watch football on a big-screen TV.
Over the coming months we will also have been busy fielding calls for direction and support and booking many free rides for veterans within Washtenaw County through our Legion Free Ride program. We will also be providing scholarships to the University of Michigan ROTC cadets and midshipmen, financially supporting the Boys State program, sponsoring a Poppy Drive to raise money for an organization that helps veterans and their caregivers with PTSD, and sponsoring fifteen wreaths that will be placed on gravesites by us at Great Lakes National Cemetery during Wreaths Across America week. We will also be participating in the Ann Arbor Independence Day Parade in downtown Ann Arbor for the first time in many years.
We are always looking to find more ways to serve our veterans, active-duty military, and our local community. We hope you will feel inspired to join us and help us to serve. Recently passed legislation allows all honorably discharged veterans to join our organization- whether you served in a combat zone or were a desk clerk at a stateside base. You served a purpose and helped keep our Nation safe, no matter how large or small your part.
Dave Draper
Commander
Erwin Prieskorn
American Legion Post 46
Ann Arbor, Michigan
