GATHER Veterans-Warriors-Heroes Sept/Oct 2022 Magazine

Photo Credit - Scarlett Piedmonte

FiRe chieF PaTRick PaRkeR and The 9/11 MeMoRial

My Office Today is a nostalgic look-back of northern Michigan, with photojournalist John Russell’s love for his hometown shining through each photo. Books are available on Amazon and JohnRussellPhoto.net.

gaTheR

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Redmond Automotive

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Mirror Image

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Classic Chevrolet

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Casino/Hotel

Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel

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Chiropractic/Integrative Medicine

Whole Health TC

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Dentist

Michigan Dental Association

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Excavating/Asphalt

Team Elmer’s 231-943-3443 teamelmers.com

Financial Advisor

Stifel Financial

Kevin Dunklow - Agent

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Funeral Home

Hair Cut

Sport Clips

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Housing

Habitat For Humanity

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In-Home Health Care

Comfort Keepers In-Home Care

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Insurance

Farm Bureau Insurance

Chris Hathaway, LUTCF - Agency Owner

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Orthodontist

Photography

Forward Exposure 616-307-8800 forwardexposure.com

Great Lakes Images greatlakesimages.net tcphoto@aol.com

Picture It By The Bay Photography info@pictureitbythebay.com Pictureitbythebay.com

Scarlett Piedmonte

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Buster’s Blinds 231-935-4336 bustersblinds.com

Schulz Orthodontist

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• 100% of gifts go directly to our chosen recipients and we embrace full transparency.

• Veteran, Active Duty-Military, First Responders, Frontline Workers or Educator families who have experienced loss or hardship are eligible nominees to receive our quarterly gift.

• Your donation is needed to impact our local community heroes.

PuBLIsHER EdITOR

COnTRIBuTIng PHOTOgRAPHERs

GATHER Media LLC

Hannah Bouwmeester - Owner Traverse City, MI 49696, (231) 492-7870

PAMELA MCCORMICK

MIKE BAnnO

JOHn RussELL

sCARLETT PIEdMOnTE

CovER By

SCARLETT PiEdMonTE

COnTRIBuTIng

wRITERs

KIRsTEn KuBERT

PETE LATHROP

AMAndA REnKIEwICz

KAREn RIEsER

gRAPHIC dEsIgnER

AdVERTIsIng

suBsCRIPTIOns

JAydEn dEsIgns

hannah@gatherveterans.com

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note: Veterans can pick up a free copy at various locations. Please email hannah@gatherveterans.com for details in your area. note: not all areas serviced.

Hannah Bouwmeester Owner/PublisherGather Veterans

Pamela McCormick Managing EditorGather Veterans

Pete Lathrop Contributing Writer

Amanda Renkiewicz Contributing Writer

Scarlett Piedmonte Photographer

Debra Ankerson Content Coordinator/ Contributor

Kirsten Kubert Contributing Writer

John Russell Photographer

Mike Banno Photographer

Karen Rieser Contributing Writer

ediToR’s noTe:

A HERO is “a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his or her brave deeds and noble qualities.”

We agree.

We celebrate HEROES in every issue.

• HEROES who protect our country, shores, communities, and families.

• HEROES who serve others, honor their commitments and stay true to their oaths to their country.

The HERO presence was strong at the 96th National Cherry Festival in Traverse City, MI, among visitors from all over the United States and beyond. Our HEROES were celebrated in parades, recruiting stations, festival tents, the open ramp at

Air Station Traverse City, and of course, the biggest crowd pleaser of all… the U.S. Navy Blue Angels.

We hope you enjoy these wonderful National Cherry Festival photos taken by Photojournalist John Russell. Through these images, he honored the HEROES who served and those who continue to protect and serve.

Mr. Russell, we appreciate your great work.

Veterans, thank you for your service.

96th Annual Cherry Festival Photos by John Russell

By Amanda Renkiewicz

we need PeoPle who haVe a need To seRVe

It’s every police spouse’s worst nightmare to open the front door and see an officer in uniform, somberly ready to deliver news of loss and devastation. One evening, Matt McCaul’s wife opened her door to see a trooper she knew in his full wardrobe, and she blurted out in horror, “Don’t tell me the bastard’s dead!”

“Oh no, I’m just here to pick up some stuff!” the man hastily exclaimed.

Matt McCaul burst out laughing as he relayed this story to our magazine, and that sense of humor and fun has kept him smiling during a career of military and police service. He was born and raised in Clarksville, a town so small they put a traffic light up since otherwise you’d miss it. He was the youngest of

six kids, with an “Iron Fist” mother full of love for her family and a hardworking, blue-collar father. Their family was in beef farming and construction, but Matt always had an image in his mind of being a Michigan State Police Trooper. Though classmates growing up, Matt and his future wife Coreen didn’t get together until her senior year in college. They recently celebrated their twenty-ninth wedding anniversary and have an adult daughter, Miah.

A family heritage of military service combined with a need to begin his police journey compelled Matt to start his service with the USAF - Edwards and Wright Pat AFB in 1993. He would be active until 2004 and had a primary role in law enforcement with security

secondary. Some of his assignments included being a gate guard, dispatcher, desk sergeant, community policing, bike patrol, patrolman, squad leader, assistant flight chief, fireteam leader, combat patrols, priority security...and the list goes on! “The military did refine my future,” Matt says. “You see, we are a toolbox of our past, the positive and negative, and we’re placing lessons learned in your life toolbox to use or discard as we mature.” Matt found it much harder to adapt back to civilian life when he was recalled after 9/11. “I didn’t feel settled upon my return from recall and didn’t figure it out until about five years later,” he explains. “It was the lack of actual true military camaraderie, which I didn’t realize was missing until my Detroit Post assignment.”

The dream of being a police officer was two-fold for Matt: he wanted to be an officer, and he wanted to be one of the select few K-9 handlers. “The military was my avenue, or start, and I chose to work strictly in the law enforcement field in Security Police,” he says. “During my reserve duty, I applied for the MSP, along with other agencies, and was selected to attend the 118th Trooper Recruit School.” His post assignments have been all over the state: Grand Haven, Detroit, Metro, Metro North, Brighton, Marshall, and Cadillac. He has over ten years of experience as a bomb/narcotics/tracking/ patrol K-9 handler in Metro Detroit and five years as a squad/administrative sergeant. Matt is currently an assistant post commander.

The lifestyle Matt became accustomed to was exhausting just to listen to. He often worked 150 hours in a two-week period,

with many call-outs and day and night shifts. “You’re going with the momentum to get through it,” he says. “I was so fatigued and physiologically wiped out, and it took years to get over that lifestyle. We moved while I changed positions and had a lot of transitions in life. For a period, it revitalized us because it was a new experience, but when it’s too long, and you’re unsettled, it can really suck the life out of you”. Burnout in the police force is incredibly real and common, and Matt cited how their pool of applicants has drastically changed and lessened. “We need people who have a need to serve,” he says. “We need protectors who will go out and face the wolf, who will take on the ugly felons that are critically hurting the public. And we have to make sure we do it right because there’s that social paradigm of the watch dogs. The news, government, and public can take a snapshot or partial video and spin things the wrong way. Our approaches are changing, and you see it with how we portray ourselves as officers. It’s a reminder that have to do our due diligence to the public and interact with them. We are truly a balancer for society.”

Matt’s initial advice for someone considering the military was a very empathic, “RUN!”. After a few laughs, he clarified, “It’s only four years of your life, and besides, it could be a career. If you don’t know what you want to do or have very little direction, go visit a recruiter and find a purpose in your life. Stop sitting around and making excuses. Build fortitude, travel, and explore. Get a sense of purpose and a sense of service.”

Matt offers sound advice for people interested in joining the police force as well. “Be in it for the right reasons: not for the badge, the power, or the image. This isn’t a ‘give it a try career,’” he cautions. “Research, invest time in looking at it.” Following this philosophy of a calling versus a job, Matt says, “My favorite part of being an officer is the unknown reward. How many people have I positively impacted? I don’t know, and I don’t need to know. The most joy I get is

hoping that I’ve impacted others and given them the tools to be safer and happier, and I hope it’s a legacy impact. I really do care about my people. I’ve got their backs.”

The history of Matt’s service and the goals of the future all revolve around adventure. He was proud to share that he was nominated as the Outstanding Reserve Airman of the Year and had a photoshoot with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He and Coreen’s long-term goal is to travel North America and stay in new places for weeks at a time. “Soon, it’ll be time to see what else is out there,” he said enthusiastically. For a man with a spirit of wanderlust and goodwill for others, we’re confident excitement and fabulous experiences await.

Matt would like to dedicate this story to USAF TSgt Robert B. Butler, EOW: died January 10, 1998, shot by a homicide suspect during a traffic stop. As a note to Robert, he added, “Too bad you didn’t get him first.”

Featured Veteran: Do you know a Veteran First Responder who you would like to nominate to be featured in an upcoming issue? Or would you be willing to share your story? Email pam@gatherveterans.com

naVY VeTeRan To nuRse

By Amanda Renkiewicz

Firefighters, police officers, medical personnel and more: we’ve seen how our Veteran community is continuously motivated to give back to society well after their service through their career choices. For Navy Veteran Karen Phelps, her journey began and continues to this day with nursing. “I went to nursing school in Minnesota, but as soon as I got out, the nurses were on strike,” she recalls. “I would have had to move anyway, so I decided to join

the Navy!” Her uncles were both military and had been inspiring to her in her youth. “I just kind of threw my decision on my parents,” she admits. “I was surprised they handled it so well!”

Travel and adventure go hand in hand, and the years that Karen had in the Navy allowed her to meet a very special someone. “I met my husband in the officer’s quarters, because he was trying to find a pop machine in the building. He went to his floor, and it was broken, then the second was also broken, and he tried the third floor, and saw me sitting in the lobby. That’s how we met,” she smiles. They became pros at dating long distance when Eric would be gone on Mediterranean cruises on a Navy vessel. “This was before computers, phones, and texting, so all the Marines on the boat would have to line up at the bar and wait for the phone. Eric would have to yell because the connection was so bad, and he would be shouting, ‘I love you!’ in front of his comrades, and I’d be shouting, ‘WHAT?’ back. They were all in line to do the same thing! It made me laugh thinking of these big military men shouting to their women and families.”

With her service done, Karen went from a Navy officer to a Marine Wife and was ready to take on a

Karen’s “husband to be” pinned on her new Lieutenant bars. Karen added with a laugh, “I outranked him for about 6 months!”

new title: Mom. Just a year later, when Desert Storm occurred, she found to her dismay that she had been recalled. “It was like being a bird let out of a cage then being caught again,” she says. “It made me rethink my commitment, so after that I was officially out and wanted to focus on having children.” Eric and Karen went on to build their family through adoption and infertility treatments. They are blessed with four daughters now ranging in ages from fourteen to twenty-four years old.

Karen continued her career working part time in nursing. “My mom was a nurse, and I was always playing nurse. When I was growing up, you were either a nurse or a teacher, and I wasn’t going to be a teacher!” she laughs. “I love working with and helping people. In the operating room, people are really sick, and often we’re saving their lives.”

The COVID pandemic dramatically changed the landscape for everything, with hospital employees having to change much of their daily activities. Karen was immediately affected as an operating room nurse at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. “The operating rooms had to become ICU capable, and most hospitals pretty much canceled all non-emergency surgeries,” Karen says. “I had eight weeks of no work. When I came back, and things started back up, it felt like we were playing catch up for everyone’s surgery that was delayed.

It still feels that way! We’ve been busy since!”

There are many challenges in the medical field, and Karen provides some insight on what makes the career tough. “The younger generations don’t want to go into the medical field. There’s a high burnout rate and most positions aren’t paid well,” she explains. “The challenge now is there are empty beds but limited staff.” There’s much to love about the profession too. “There are so many different avenues and options within nursing that you can find what you like and stick with that,” she says. “There’s a wide range of possibilities from teaching to working with the elderly or pediatrics. With the evolution of technology, drugs, and discoveries, the field is always changing and staying fresh.”

Fearlessness is part of being a Navy officer, a nurse, and a mom. Raising four girls is a task that strikes terror in most adults, but Karen took it in stride. “Being a nurse and Navy officer taught me to deal with things I didn’t think I could do. You just jump in with both feet even when you don’t feel adequate,” she says. Faith has given her support during the hard times of life. “My faith is important to me. When I was in the Navy, we had a lot of Bible studies and scripture memorization. Walking that life inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and gave me the courage to walk forward into the unknown. The Lord is the guiding light in my life.”

Featured Nurse: Do you know a Nurse who you would like to nominate to be featured in an upcoming issue? Or would you be willing to share your story?

Email pam@gatherveterans.com

Riding ouT The

I’ve got it easy. I throw on my boots and coat. Get in my truck and in five minutes I’m at my happy place. I can stroll along, taking in the serenity of the rolling hardwoods and streams that grace the Boardman River Valley in Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The only way I can get lost is in my thoughts.

That peaceful luxury may be available to most who seek it, but for some, it eludes them. Especially those who are imprisoned by the demons of war.

I’ve had the privilege of getting to know some selfless, kind-hearted people who live to serve veterans who carry the nightmares of PTSD. Their organizations offer a wide variety of services for veterans, most free of charge like hunting trips, retreats, specialty sporting events, etc. They’re designed to unlock all that keeps veterans, who valiantly fought for our freedom, from finding freedom of the mind and soul.

Over the years, I’ve gotten to know wonderful people like Becki Bigelow. She has been a guest with me on my radio show for years. She and her husband, Dennis Bigelow are Directors of Reigning Liberty Ranch just outside of Traverse City, MI. Reigning Liberty is a horse ranch that offers the program “Horses 4 Heroes”. Offered free of charge to veterans, horsemanship classes offer therapeutic riding classes that allow the veteran to develop a friendship with the animal and learn to care for it. Becky says it’s relational horsemanship. It’s a term used to describe the non-verbal communication or language between horses and humans. It goes beyond

By Pete Lathrop

training and is based more on relationship, communication, leadership and developing a working partnership with your horse. Becki understood the amazing connection that can happen between humans and horses when her horse personally helped her through some very difficult events while growing up. She felt led to retire from her job to pursue her passion in getting involved with Therapeutic Horseback Riding.

R e ig n ing Liberty

I can tell that Becki is passionate about helping veterans, after all, she’s married to one. Dennis is a Navy veteran. They have both invested an immense amount of time, sweat, and heart into the start-up of this ranch with the vision to have it become a legacy farm for Veterans and their families. It’s been years in the making, but the impact has been immense. One vet in the program said, “I have become more aware of myself, and I have been able to read my emotions and better control myself around people. It has been overall a huge improvement.” Another said, “The fact that there’s a place to come and not have to explain your anxiety and depression is freeing. The horses calm me so much.” The list of testimonials is lengthy.

For the Bigelow’s, helping veterans through equine therapy is a labor of love. Reining Liberty Ranch is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit tax-exempt

organization, so a large amount of the funding goes to help the veterans with therapy and access to the facilities. It’s not uncommon to see several vets sitting around a campfire with Becky and Dennis or sipping coffee in their kitchen. It’s like being at home. And when it comes to Veteran’s Day or Memorial Day, Reigning Liberty Ranch is abuzz with families from all around the area, enjoying the festivities and solemnly remembering the price of freedom. And right there in the middle of it, Becki is hugging and thanking as many vets as she can.

“I went to the appointment the first time with debilitating shoulder pain. After just five treatments I had improved 50%. I am appreciative of Dr. Moran’s knowledge and the method he used to eliminate my pain. I highly recommend Dr. Moran and have already recommended him to others.”

~ Michigan Veteran

The unsToPPable childRen oF The aMeRican ReVoluTion and The Yellow Ribbon honoR FlighT

By Amanda Renkiewicz

Imagine going to war and risking everything. Our Veteran readers certainly know the significance of this choice but imagine another aspect of this situation: imagine that when you return home, civilians don’t thank you for your service. In fact, you’re treated as a traitor.

For Vietnam Veterans, this dislike was what they returned to. Yellow ribbons, signifying a loved one was missed, were not out in force. While the surviving Veterans are now well into their eighties, nineties, and beyond, they are finally getting the thanks and gratitude that they deserve, all because of one unstoppable youth: Alice Kraatz.

As a member of the Children of the American Revolution, Alice was brought up with a love of country and military from birth. The organization is a massive youth philanthropy for those with a genealogical descent from a person who supported the cause of American independence. “Alice doesn’t remember a time it wasn’t part of her life,” explains her proud

Alice Calling Vets

Receiving Jim McCloughan Challenge Coin

mother, Elizabeth. “Honoring our servicemen and women was something done at every age. We started her with planting flags, and saw how every year, her understanding deepened. It was wonderful to see her develop as a patriot. It’s now a natural part of who she is as a person.”

After being elected President of the group, Alice began an ambitious plan to fundraise for a unique Honor Flight specifically for Vietnam Veterans. She was inspired after hearing that a friend’s grandpa was a Vietnam Vet but was treated poorly. The news was shocking and led her to approach the Honor Flight board with her idea. They responded with great enthusiasm and over $100,000 was raised to fund the cost of the Honor Flight

“My favorite part of fundraising was seeing all of these different communities coming together,” Alice says. “It feels so good to honor them and see how all these years of being ignored changes in one moment as they are finally recognized and applauded.”

Returning to Kalamazoo Airport at the end of the day

Alice with entire group

Alice with veteran at wreath laying

She and other members of the organizations participated in weekly planning meetings. When the flight logistics were in place, she participated in calling applicants to tell them they were approved to go on the flight. “The people we called were overwhelmingly surprised,” Alice laughs. “They can wait years, and it’s such a long time that some had forgotten that their names were even on the list. Their next question was often asking if their old friends were going too.” The flight provides both a reunion and a time of healing for everyone involved.

Alice and Jim McCloughan with two veterans at wreath laying

The Children of the American Revolution Yellow Ribbon Honor Flight will be executed

Challenge Coin Yellow Ribbon side

Challenge Coin C.A.R. side

Flyover

by the National Network as part of their Lone Eagle program, with the collaboration of the Talons Out and Mid-Michigan Honor Flight hubs. Upon their return from the flight, a welcome committee will be waiting at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo. “Alice Kraatz will be traveling with the Veterans to Washington D.C. as the Assistant Flight Coordinator. She has been and will be helping with every aspect of the flight. This is not a role taken lightly but something she has earned with hard work, dedication, and attention to detail,” said Honor Flight Network COO and Lone Eagle Honor Flight Director Bobbie Bradley.

It’s incredibly rare to have such a high level of awareness and care for our military in someone as young as Alice. “When you greet a Veteran, you’re touching history with every hand you shake,” she marveled. Through her incredible devotion to honoring our Veterans, Alice has set the stage for what will be an unforgettable experience, complete with a welcome back party that will resonate and touch every heart.

Alice presenting challenge coin

Wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Alice and veterans escorted by Tomb Sentinel

Capt. Stroven Remembered at Wall

Place Setting at Banquet

Jeremy leading the Missing Man Remembrance

oPeRaTion

VicToRY VeRTicals Take noTe

Researched and Written

By Karen Rieser · Photos from Wikimedia Commons

The wisdom of Confucius tells us, “Music provides a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot without.” The Steinway Piano Company entered World War II, hoping to support the troops by providing the music needed to improve their quality of life. How does a piano maker aid in the war? The Victory Verticals or G.I. Pianos operation is a story of respect, perseverance, and creativity.

By 1941 we were involved in WWII. The 1940s brought serious political tensions

between the United States, Europe, and Asia. In addition,

having barely recovered from the Great Depression, economic stability was still a major worry. Culturally, U.S. citizens were dealing with the rationing of goods, from sugar and butter to gasoline. Women were entering the workforce, anti-German and Asian sentiments led to internment camps, hemlines moved up to save fabric, the atomic bomb was tested and used, and Big Bands defined the era with their music. This volatile political and cultural atmosphere prompted the use of G.I. pianos as a morale booster.

The Steinway family was personally and economically invested in the war effort. The company’s president, Theodore Steinway, had four sons and nephews fighting for the cause. Economically, the Steinway Company was subject to the same rationing restrictions as all businesses, dating back to the midnineteenth century, and one of the “Big Four” piano makers. They were not permitted to use iron, copper, brass, or other metals needed to produce guns, tanks, or artillery. What to do to remain viable? A decision was made to keep the New York store open, run it with a skeleton crew, and produce the tails, wings, and other parts needed for troop transport gliders. Later the company contracted to make coffins for the National Casket Company. These were items required to support the war effort, dismal times indeed.

A ray of sunshine entered the Steinway Company when in late 1941, Theodore E. Steinway received a request from the U.S. government’s War Production Board for heavy-duty military pianos.

At the time, no such thing existed, so they set off to the drawing board to design a piano to fit the bill. By June of 1942, the prototypes were available for inspection.

Paul H. Bihuber, a factory manager, headed the team that developed the Victory Vertical. The company had taken their Regency uprights and redesigned them for heavy-duty military use. The result was an instrument that used thirty-three pounds of metal, one-tenth of previous pianos, was forty inches tall, painted either olive drab, blue, or gray, and missing its familiar front legs that were felt to be too delicate to withstand an airlift. The keys were covered with celluloid as ivory would peel off in tropical climates, and soft iron was used as windings on the strings as copper was rationed. The instruments were also “tropicalized” by treating them with an anti-termite and insect solution and sealing them with water-resistant glue. Handles were placed under the key bed and rear so four soldiers could carry the 455-pound piano.

Getting the upright pianos to the troops took a lot of imagination. Each piano was shipped in a custom-made container with sheet music, tuning tools, and instructions. The pianos were loaded on B-17 bombers and parachuted to troops waiting in Asia. The first piano drop was made in 1942.

By the war’s end, Steinway had shipped over 5,000 instruments, 2,500 going to the military, while the remainder were received by essential users such as religious organizations, educational institutions, hotels, and other places where the public gathered. The cost for many of the pianos was $486.

It was felt by the military and substantiated by returning troops that the G.I. pianos helped keep the soldiers mentally healthy and discouraged homesickness. Additionally, they provided a diversion from current events while being educational, entertaining, and enhancing worship services.

Piano W-672 accompanied Benjamin DeLoache, a baritone, singing for soldiers in Papua New Guinea eleven miles from enemy lines. Another piano performed

in a bi-weekly show in the Orchestra of Fleet Hospital 108 in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. Others were played in dance bands in the Philippines and a special unit in Alaska. They were also used in USO shows by Bob Hope and violinist Isaac Stern.

In 1943 the Steinway company received a letter from Private Kenneth Kranes, stationed in North Africa, that had been posted to his mother in New York. The letter was written one week before Private Kranes’ death. “We all got a kick out of it and sure had fun after meals when we gathered around the pianna (sp.) to sing. I slept smiling, and even today am humming a few of the songs we sang.”

The G.I. pianos continued to be made until 1953. These sturdy little beasts endured the savage conditions of war and tropical monsoons. They fought an honorable fight, but when their noble job was done, they surrendered to the environment.

The unique gift music brought to the war effort enabled WWII soldiers to make it through their war experience a little less bruised and battle-worn. May the music never stop.

is that really my car?!

By Amanda Renkiewicz

The Ayers family hears that incredulous question from their customers daily. As the owners of Mirror Image Car Wash, their combination of exterior washes and interior detailing have turned countless cars from grubby to glowing. Patriarch Scott Ayers has been in the business since the age of ten, when his dad had thirteen car washes in the 1960’s. While Scott went to college focusing on petroleum and production drilling, the market crashed and changed the landscape of the oil industry. He moved to Traverse City in 1975 and went back into his family legacy of vehicle care.

“My kids would all tell you that my greatest ability is to go out

and interact with customers,” Scott explains. “I love chit chatting and connecting with people. When I first started the business in the 80s, my dad wanted nothing to do with it. He preferred his exterior washes where we had people pull through and not interact. Then on opening day, he came down and hung out, talking to everybody who came. “I changed my mind, I’ll run this one!” he told me. He’d forgotten how much he missed being able to talk to the customers.”

During COVID, Mirror Image had to change their business model to adhere to safety precautions. “We weren’t allowed to get into the cars for five months, and it took a long time for business

to pick back up and for people to feel comfortable with others going into their vehicles. We’re happy to disinfect and do whatever it takes to keep our clients confident,” Scott says. “We’re building our business and looking for staff. We’d love to take on more work but need the labor to offer that. We are hiring!”

“I’ve had my truck detailed before but nothing compares to the excellent topto-bottom job they just did - goodbye sand and dog hair. Seriously, every inch looks sparkling brand new with a better than new car smell.” Customer Wendy P.

“We appreciate all of our customer support and look forward to getting to know new people,” says Ryan Ayers, Scott’s son. The family feel at Mirror Image Car Wash is hard to miss: Scott’s other sons Matthew and Brandon are involved as well. They each found their path back into the family business in different ways. “We finally purchased the land and the building that the business sits on and rebranded ourselves last year,” explains Ryan. “We want people to know us, what we stand for, and what our values are. We all work hard to ensure our customers are happy and appreciative. It’s so rewarding to us when customers can’t believe their car looks so amazing. With every client, our goal is to go above and beyond. We recently had a customer who said that our family has been washing his cars for over seventy years!”

Many customers visit Mirror Image Car Wash for more than the excellent service: they’re waiting for a glimpse of

Moose, Rocket, Peanut, Buster, Buddy, Cooper, Jameson, or Shandy. “We’ve got seven dogs who rotate through every day,” says Ryan. “It’s part of our logo since the puppies are always here! You can enjoy dog therapy while your car is being washed. We specialize in detailing cars with pets because we’re used to it!”

Along with vehicle service, the Mirror Image Car Wash team serves the Grand Traverse

County area through numerous annual donations. “We donate across the board to schools, baseball teams, the police and fire departments, and even the Cherry Festival,” Scott says. “The community and their needs matter to us!”

“The staff and service at Mirror Image is amazing! It is by far the most convenient place to go in Traverse City if you need your car washed or detailed. Prices are great, they get you in and out quickly, what more could you ask for?!” Customer Laura C.

What more, indeed?

Visit Mirror Image Car Wash for puppy snuggles and an immaculate car at 1121 Boon St in Traverse City.

neVeR FoRgeT

FiRe chieF PaTRick PaRkeR and The gRand TRaVeRse 9/11 MeMoRial

By Amanda Renkiewicz

It started with a magazine and led to Rudy Giuliani pulling out a checkbook.

Fire Chief Patrick Parker was browsing through a trade journal during a peaceful moment at his firehouse when he saw an article about the 9/11 Families Association. They were reaching out to fire departments across the country, offering an artifact from 9/11, and Pat was intrigued at the

idea of any type of gift. He responded, writing about what they would do if they received an artifact, along with ideas for displaying it and keeping it open to the public. He sent his information, then went back to work.

Months later, the phone rang, and it was New York on the line. “You’re getting an artifact,” the representative from the 9/11 Families Association informed him. “What do you want?”

Pat was honored at the thought of anything but saw the opportunity to go big. “Something that would fit in the back of a pickup truck!” he responded quickly.

“I have a 3 , 300-pound floor beam from the North Tower,” was the reply.

“Well, that won’t fit in a pickup truck, but yes, we want it!” Pat answered.

Three firefighters drove out to downtown New York to pick up the piece. They arrived at Hanger #17 at JFK airport and saw the surreal amount of what remained from the Twin Towers: radio antennas, crushed fire trucks, and pieces of metal. They backed their trailer up to the door, and the New York firefighters helped load the broken beam.

The moment brought together a fraternity of everyone who carried the devastation of 9/11 in their hearts. “Never forget,” their East Coast brethren told them gravely. The Michigan

crew swore that the piece would be in high regard, and in a place of honor forever. They draped the artifact with an American flag and began their journey west.

As they entered Grand Traverse County on April 7, 2011, nearly ten years after the most horrifying event in our present history, a Sheriff’s Escort took them and this piece of 9/11 home.

Then the question was raised: What are we going to do with it?

The strategic thinking began. “While we firefighters are the stewards of it, it’s the people’s artifact,” Chief Parker says. “On that morning, this piece was standing proudly in the Tower before the attack. Of course, as the fire service we embrace 9/11, knowing that 343 firefighters died that day rushing into the Twin Towers to save others. It’s hard to put into words what it means to me and our community that we have this.”

The beam was already being honored throughout Northern Michigan. The team first planned a 10thanniversary tribute at the Open Space, where over a thousand people came to view the artifact. It was then driven through the Cherry Festival parade before being placed at the corner of 3 Mile and Parson’s roads, a scenic area to build a tribute to it. Many donations of money and time from people and businesses contributed to the Memorial. They put up signage that describes the day’s events, from the first plane hitting the Tower, to the attempted Pentagon attack and the downed plane in Pennsylvania.

Adopt A Hero has been a fundraising tool to contribute to the Memorial and its upkeep. A list of every firefighter who died that day, along with his or her story and background, is available for people to view online. For $75, a brick is purchased in honor of that firefighter, and used in the Memorial.

Rudy Giuliani himself, the former and beloved mayor of New York City, came to Traverse City and visited our 9/11 Memorial. When he saw the Adopt A Hero list, he pulled out his checkbook, picking out the faces of people he had known personally and buying a brick in their honor.

The Memorial is open yearround and has become a sacred refuge for visitors to reflect. “We look at it and think about it daily. We

always pause on 9/11 at 8:46 am, the time when the first plane hit the Tower,” says Chief Parker. “People come day and night to see the beam. Some people touch it or reach for it like it’s too sacred to touch. It’s become a type of wishing well with coins scattered around. And on the morning of every 9/11, someone, we don’t know who, but someone lays flowers there.”

The artifact leans 10 degrees towards New York, as if it, too, recalls its purpose and placement in the North Tower in downtown Manhattan.

The Latin words Omnis Cedo Domus are inscribed on the front of the firehouse’s garage and uniform emblems. Meaning “Everyone Goes Home”, this motto is an initiative that Chief Parker and his team follow every moment of their careers. “This is a dangerous profession. Nobody wakes up thinking they could die that day,” he says solemnly. “We preach that we need to look out for another. Our goal is to never have a name on a memorial for our firefighters. I never want to go to someone’s home to tell them that their family didn’t make it. Everyone Goes Home.”

For the 343 firefighters and thousands of others who did not make it home on September 11, 2001, we honor their lives and remember them through the steel beam that stands in tribute to a day that lives in our hearts forever.

“i

ValleR

FRoM The coasT guaRd To The coFFee RoasTeRY

By Amanda Renkiewicz

At just twenty-two years old, Malakhi Valler already has a lifetime of experiences under his belt. This Montana native’s journey has taken him all over the United States as a Coastie, taught him lessons in cooking for a crowd, and will soon be sending him to a land abundant in coffee. Meet Coast Guardsman Valler!

How often have you made dinner for two hundred people? Let’s step it up a notch: have you ever cooked for two hundred people aboard a 295-foot barque? For Malakhi, the answer is yes, and many times. He took a temporary summer cook’s position on the USCGC Eagle, one of only two active commissioned

sailing vessels in the United States military today. The ship was built as the German sail training ship Horst Wessel in 1936 and it served to train German sailors in sail techniques until it was decommissioned at the start of World War II. The vessel was given anti-aircraft armament and recommissioned in 1942. At the end of the war, Horst Wessel was taken by the U.S. as war reparations, and is now used for training purposes. “We cooked in a galley space of about twelve by twenty and would carry all of the food across the ship for three meals a day,” he says. “We made everything: spaghetti and meatballs, surf and turf, shrimp scampi, biscuits and gravy, you

name it. A favorite was called hamsters, and it was a premade chicken cordon bleu. It was a busy experience with fourteen-hour days and nine hours off, so while some people love being underway, I was ready to move on after my summer. I finished up and got married three days after getting off the boat.”

One boat Malakhi would love to get back on is a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat. “I got qualified on those and got to extensively use them,” he explains. “I had to memorize all the compartments, hundreds of items, and the systems. I knew that thing inside and out and put a lot of hours on it. Being on search and rescue was my favorite thing.

It was a fun ride. You just get thrown around like a bath toy!” he laughs. “They bob around quite a bit and rock at 45-degree angles back and forth. When you hit a big wave, you go straight up and down and get soaked. It was a very versatile and sturdy boat. I loved it, it was wonderful.”

The adrenaline rush has been part of the attraction of being a Coast Guardsman. Malakhi remembers rescuing one of their own CG boats while doing surf drills. “Half of our crew was on a seventy-year-old 52foot boat with old electrical systems. There was a twenty-foot surf and we saw the chief waving at us from the other boat. Their comms and steering systems had quit, and we had to throw a tow line and get them back in.” Another interesting rescue occurred when a Motor Lifeboat drove through a ton of jellyfish and sucked them up into the intake, causing motor failure (sadly many jellyfish lost their lives that day). “Crazy stories like that happen every day in the heat of the action,” he says. “Once back in Oregon we had a standard boarding case and had brought along a gentleman who was a NOAA officer. We were conducting a typical inspection and were shocked when we saw there was tons of crystal meth on board. The owner of the boat and the drugs tried to make an escape and tackled the NOAA officer. We got him off and contained him until the police arrived, but our NOAA guy was pretty shaken up: he had a desk job and wasn’t expecting that!”

Malakhi has seen lots of trouble on the waters but feels confident that most people take their safety seriously. “It’s all common sense,” he says. “People don’t get in trouble unless they’re throwing caution to the wind. When you’re going out, tell people where you’re going to be. We recently took two helicopters searching for missing snowmobilers on Lake Superior after a storm came up and we found them in tents on the ice. They had planned to weather it out and were surprised and irritated to realize their family had called for help. Tell people your plans!”

The four years Malakhi has spent in the Coast Guard have been, in

his words, amazing. “I’ve met some incredible people and gotten to travel quite a bit. It’s been a wonderful start for me and my family. I’m more of a hippie than a soldier by any means but being in the Coast Guard has been key in giving me a starting point to kick off life for which I’m very thankful.”

Malakhi is now ready for a family focus. He and his wife Becca have been married for two years and have a nine-month-old son named Cyrus, and a rescue dog named Duke who is part Labrador, part Doberman, and full goofball. They’ve been enjoying being part of the Traverse City Coast Guard, part of a worship team, and active with fly fishing.

Despite their happiness in Northern Michigan, the scent of arabica beans is calling them home.

In the five-hundred-person town of Lincoln, Montana on Sucker Creek Road lies Valler Coffee Roasters What started as a quest to find delicious coffee to serve at their bakery and ice cream parlor took the Valler family onto an adventure they never anticipated. Their small batch roastery serves beans from Central and South America that develop the richest, most delicious flavor with the high-altitude roasting that takes place in the Rocky Mountains. Their family business consists of roasters extraordinaire, a wonderful sales team, and their beloved Coast Guardsman. “My dad started the roastery in 2016 and supplies coffee all over the state. My younger brother is sixteen and knows how to make all the coolest fancy drinks,” he says proudly. “I’m going back to help with the roasting and marketing. I’m a coffee fanatic and had a hard time adjusting to the store brand, cheap coffee we had on the Eagle. Our coffee company spoiled me for everything else!” With the lure of high-quality coffee, Malakhi, Becca, Cyrus, and Duke will be making their way west to put down their roots right where they started. “It’s incredible that my wife and I met in California, only to find that our families lived close to each other,” Malakhi says. “We’re going to buy some land, build a house, plant a garden, and live quietly. And of course, drink lots of Valler Coffee!”

aPPle Pie angel

By Kirsten Kubert (Mother of an Active-Duty Military Son)

Instructions

1. Grease the bottom and sides of a seasoned 12-inch cast iron skillet with 1 ½ tsp. of softened butter; set aside.

2. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, yeast, and sugar. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Quickly run the cold butter through the large holes of a box grater to shred it over the dry ingredients. Gently toss the shredded butter to separate and coat with the flour mixture.

Apple Pie Angel Biscuits are southern-style biscuits baked in a cast iron skillet and topped with cinnamon apple pie filling and an elegant drizzle of gooey cream cheese icing.

YIELDS 12 SERVINGS

1 hr. 30 min Prep Time | 30 min. Cook Time

Ingredients

For the Biscuits:

• 2 C. all-purpose flour

• 1 Tbs. baking powder

• ½ tsp. baking soda

• ¾ tsp. salt

• 1 ¼ tsp. instant (rapid rise) yeast

• 1 Tbs. granulated sugar

• 5 Tbs. very cold unsalted butter

• ½ C. plus 6 Tbs. 2% milk

• ½ tsp. white vinegar

• For the Apple Pie Topping:

• 3 small apples

• 1 Tbs. granulated sugar

• ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

• 1 ½ tsp. unsalted butter

• For the Cream Cheese Icing:

• 3 Tbs. cream cheese softened

• ¼ C. powdered sugar

• ¼ tsp. clear vanilla extract

• 2 Tbs. 2% milk, more or less, to achieve desired consistency

Also Required:

• Seasoned 12-inch cast iron skillet

• 1 ½ tsp. unsalted butter softened

3. Stir the vinegar into the milk. Gradually add 1 ½ C. of milk, lightly folding it into the dry ingredients to combine. Add additional milk, as necessary, until dough just comes together and pulls away from the side of the bowl without being overly wet or sticky. All of the milk may not be required for the dough to come together, depending on flour density and/or humidity in the kitchen.

4. Turn dough out onto a clean and lightly floured work surface or pastry mat. Lightly flour the top of the dough. Then, gently flatten the dough with your hands to form a 1-inch thick rectangle. Gently knead the dough by folding it onto itself in thirds (envelope style), and then lightly flatten it into another rectangle. Turn the dough a quarter turn and repeat this process 3 times. Having a light touch is the key to avoiding overworking the dough or else the biscuits will be tough. Slow and gentle kneading is the key.

5. Press or roll the kneaded dough into a large rectangle, ½-inch thick. Cut the biscuits as close together as possible using a 3-inch diameter biscuit cutter. Push straight down to cut the biscuits. Do not turn the biscuit cutter while cutting, as doing so will hinder the even rise of the biscuits. Piece together the remaining dough and repeat the process until all of the dough is used.

6. Arrange the biscuits in the prepared cast iron skillet about an inch apart. Cover the biscuits with a clean kitchen towel, setting them in a warm, draft-free place to rise until the biscuits have noticeably risen in height—about 1 hour.

7. While the biscuits are rising, prepare the apple filling by peeling, coring, and dicing the apples. Five small apples should yield six cups of diced apples. Melt the butter in a skillet set over medium heat. Once the butter begins to froth, stir in the diced apples. Sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon over the apples, stirring well to coat the apples. Sauté the apple mixture until apples for 3 to 5 minutes or until the apples are just tender but not yet soft. Remove the apples from the heat. Transfer the apple filling to a glass or ceramic bowl to cool to room temperature.

8. While the apple pie filling is cooling, prepare the cream cheese icing by blending the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla together in a small bowl. Slowly incorporate enough of the milk to achieve an icing that is thick yet smooth in consistency. The icing should cling to a fork for a second before slowly drizzling off the end. Cover the icing bowl with plastic wrap and set aside.

9. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

10. Once the biscuits have sufficiently risen, evenly spoon the cooled apple pie filling over top. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes or until the biscuits are puffy and beginning to brown.

11. Set cast iron skillet to cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before drizzling cream cheese icing over all. Serve warm.

VETERANS

Because veterans give selflessly, we work to connect them to the benefits they’ve earned.

The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency helps identify and break down barriers. We offer helping hands and links to helpful services. And with our full-spectrum approach, veterans and their families lean on us to:

• Improve health

• Advance education

• Find jobs

• Get help with home purchases

• Receive VA disability compensation

• Get assistance with financial emergencies

• Talk to veteran service officers

• Connect with fellow veterans

• And more

Enroll in benefits by calling 1-800-MICH-VET or visiting Michigan.gov/MVAA

Zaneta Adams, Director

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency