Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency

The VA Detroit Medical Center will be hosting a Women Veterans Webinar this Wednesday, October 30th, at 2 p.m. via Facebook Live. Learn about women's health, telehealth, VSOs and the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program at the VA Detroit Medical Center. To join their Facebook Live, be sure to visit their Facebook page: https://lnkd.in/eFY-gF-G

Lansing Community College will be hosting their annual Veterans Day Celebration Ceremony on Monday, November 11th, beginning at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be held at the Gannon Building at the Downtown Lansing Campus with parking available on the second floor of the Gannon Parking Ramp. Lunch will follow for all guests.

National Day of the Deployed honors all service members who have been deployed in service of our country. The day also acknowledges the sacrifices that military families make during deployment. The day was first given formal recognition by North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven on Oct. 26, 2006. In 2011, a bill to recognize this as a national day of honor was passed, honoring the deployed troops and their families throughout America. #DayOfTheDeployed

Citing the threat posed to American nationals in the Caribbean nation of Grenada by the nation’s Marxist regime, President Ronald Reagan ordered U.S. military to invade and secure their safety on Oct. 25, 1983. The invasion was code named Operation Urgent Fury, and in little more than a week Grenada’s government was overthrown. There were nearly 1,000 Americans in Grenada at the time, many of them students at the island’s medical school. The invasion resulted in the appointment of an interim government, followed by democratic elections in 1984. The country has remained a democratic nation. The date of the invasion is now a national holiday in Grenada, called Thanksgiving Day, which commemorates the freeing of several political prisoners, who were subsequently elected into office.

Today is the last day of National Buddy Check Week, but being there for your fellow service members and veterans doesn't stop here. Continue your efforts all year long with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s Buddy to Buddy Veteran Mentorship Program. The Buddy to Buddy program provides support and resources to all Michigan veterans and service members by connection with a trained veteran volunteer. This program is free, confidential and open to any individual who served in the armed forces, regardless of length of service or discharge type. Learn more about MVAA's Buddy to Buddy program at: Michigan.gov/MVAAB2B

MVAA Director Brian L. Love visited the Macomb County Vet Center to present Vietnam veterans with a Vietnam-era Veteran Recognition Lapel Pin and to officially welcome them home. To the Vietnam veterans that attended this event and to all Vietnam veterans - thank you for the sacrifices you made and your willingness to serve our country. You endured hardships and you were willing to risk your life to maintain our freedom. Thank you for your service and welcome home.

Reconnect with your battle buddies, make sure they’re okay. Take the pledge to #TalktoTen! To become a Buddy through the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency's Buddy to Buddy Veteran Mentorship Program or to find a Buddy near you, please visit: Michigan.gov/MVAAB2B

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) has received a letter and Certificate of Appreciation from the Director the US Army, Major General Edward J. Chrystal Jr., recognizing the agency for faithfully representing our Nation by selflessly hosting events to thank and honor Vietnam-era veterans and their families.  Since his appointment last October by Gov. Whitmer, MVAA Director Brian L. Love has traveled across Michigan pinning hundreds of Vietnam-era veterans, thanking each one for their service and officially welcoming them home. READ MORE: https://bit.ly/3YdSx3u

Veterans have stories to tell—stories that are powerful, healing, and inspirational. To honor those words and help bring them to light, the Alma College MFA in Creative Writing is offering this no-cost one-day workshop for all who have served in the military. The event will feature: 🔹Teaching sessions by award-winning MFA faculty 🔹Writing prompts to get you started 🔹Information on how to continue your work with the support of the MFA program. You can join in-person or online. To register, visit: https://lnkd.in/eE9YfUKW

Veterans don’t have to navigate their benefits alone. The Buddy to Buddy Program can help. It’s personal and local one-on-one peer mentorship for veterans of all eras and discharge types, as well as individuals currently serving in the Michigan National Guard or Reserves. To find a Buddy or to become a Buddy, learn more at Michigan.gov/MVAAB2B