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.  Coffee and donuts in the morning and lunch around noon.  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

Starting August 2, 2021, our American Legion Post, in cooperation with AARP and Feonix Mobility, will be sponsoring free rides for veterans to any destination within Washtenaw County for essential services. Accomodations can be made for the handicaped, 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 active military in whatever form it takes. This service is being tried on a six month trial basis. Call (734) 707-7785 to book a ride- preferably a couple days in advance.

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Commander Draper Receives Veteran of the Year Award

 

 

On November 6 Commander Dave Draper received the Veteran of the Year from the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency at a gala held at Selfridge ANG in Harrison Twp. MVAA Director Zaneta Adams presented the award The night was filled with great food, live band, and dancing. Twelve other awards were presented at the gala. CDR Draper was moved and humbled by the award.

  

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Adjutant Johnston Receives Legion Department Best Post Service Officer Award

 

 

 

Our Post Adjutant Glen Johnston recently received the Department of Michigan Carlton L. Seaman Award for Best Post Service Officer for 2021. He received this award for his dedication to assisting veterans for keeping impeccable records, and for filing the proper paperwork accurately and expeditiously. Our Commander was very proud to have presented this award on behalf of the Department of Michigan at one of our post meetings (shown here).  

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Chaplain Bull Receives Award From VVA Chapter 310

 

 

Post 46's Chaplain, Bob Bull, recently received the Charles S. Kettles VVA Chapter 310's Member of the Year Award. It was given for his relentless work assisting veterans. Shown here is President Stan Harrison presenting the award to Chaplain Bull.

 

 

 

 

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 Fisher House Ann Arbor Donor Plaque Finally Arrives

 

 

 

This donor plaque was installed within the last few days in the foyer of the Ann Arbor Fisher House. Our post was fortunate to be listed in the "one star" category, having donated $100,000.00 over a five year period towards its construction. We are proud to be a partner with Fisher House Ann Arbor and continue our support through donations of volunteer time, financial contributions, gift cards, food, and equipment donations. We also contributed towards the purchase of their shuttle cart.

 

 

 

 

 

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 Ann Arbor VA Medical Center Renamed

On June 18 an official ceremony, almost two years in the making, was conducted to rename the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center to LTC Charles S. Kettles Medical Center. Senators, Congressmen, the Ann Arbor Mayor, Kettles family members, and representatives from VVA Chapter 310, AVVA 310, and American Legion Post 46 were in attendance. See pictures of the event HERE.

 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.

 Vaccine Available For All Age Groups

VAAAHS (VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System) has made the COVID vaccine available for all age groups and the Pfizer booster available to those who are immunocompromised and those that had their last Pfizer shot greater that 28 days.

If a Veteran is interested in the COID19 vaccine, they can call to discuss eligibility and/or schedule an appointment at:

For Ann Arbor Medical Center, call (734) 222-7100
Appointments start at 8:15a with the last appointment at 4:15p

For Toledo Outpatient Clinic, call (419) 259-2000,
Appointments start at 8:15a with the last appointment at 3:45p

For Flint Outpatient Clinic, call (810) 720-2913 x52641
Appointments start at 8:15a with the last appointment at 5:30p

For Jackson Outpatient Clinic, call 517-764-3609 x52529 
Appointments start at 8:30a with the last appointment at 3:15p

 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.

                                                   G4V Website

Space Force veterans and active-duty military now welcome in the American Legion

   When 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.

Need food in these trying times. No one should go hungry as we deal with this COVID virus. 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 

    Another year is fast coming to a close and we are still dealing with the COVID virus. For the last couple of months, we have been able to hold meetings inside the Post, although recent spikes in the virus may put an end to that. As the Marine Corps motto goes, we have to modify, adapt, and overcome to deal with challenges we are presented with.

     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 over 775 pounds of goods that will be distributed to the needy. We've also donated to Hope Clinic and are in the process of assessing what we can do through volunteering. We recently began the implementation of Phase II at Veterans Memorial Park, where we are installing a couple of benches, and six branch-of-service medallions. Our Post, along with Ann Arbor's VFW Post 423 have opened the Post Hall 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. Each week it gains popularity. Previously, the Hall was only open for meetings.

     We have also been busy fielding calls for direction and support. We've helped a veteran get his vehicle fixed, given direction to vets needing help getting services from the VA, helped a vet who recently was homeless but found housing, but needed a few tools so he could start a new job, and we're helping a homeless woman who is currently living in her vehicle.

     Our post has also provided scholarships to the University of Michigan ROTC cadets, financially supported the Boys State program, sponsored a Poppy Drive to raise money for an organization that helps veterans and their caregivers with PTSD, sponsored fifteen wreaths which will be placed on gravesites by us at Great Lakes National Cemetery during Wreaths Across America week (if not canceled because of COVID), began the process to start a Jr. Air Rifle program, and annually we participate in the Walk and Roll 22 awareness walk put on by WACU.

     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 was 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