Salute to Veterans 2018

A Salute

to our Veterans Ludington

Friday, November 10, 2017

A special publication of the

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Vietnam veteran

SALUTE THEIR SERVICE VETERANS DAY

Life changed due to 1969 notice from Uncle Sam

BY KEVIN BRACISZESKI DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Ludington To our men and women in uniform:

From the bottom of our hearts

Emery “Buzz” Lowe, who grew up in Ludington the son of a World War II Army veteran, had his life changed by a notice he received from Uncle Sam. “I was drafted,” Lowe said about receiving the notice in 1969, a year after he graduated from Ludington High School.

“It’s not very good (news) when you leave a wife and daughter here when you go to Vietnam,” he said about his year of duty in that wartorn country in the period of 1970 to 1971.

“I was one of the lucky ones. I made it back without a scratch,” Lowe said.

“I don’t think my kids know what I went through,” he said about the war. “They didn’t really ask and I didn’t push it.

“My wife knows. She lived through it and she’s still got every letter I sent her.”

Lowe, who served in the Army’s 1st Cavalry Division, has been the second vice commander of Ludington’s American Legion Post for the past six years. He still doesn’t talk much about his experiences during the war.

“All my brothers are there,” he said about the American Legion. “It’s more of a family involvement there.”

And Lowe means family, literally. He has three grandsons who served in the military — one with the Navy, one with the Army and one with the Coast Guard.

He also has two daughters and a granddaughter who are members of the post’s auxiliary, and his wife, Debbie, is the auxiliary’s vice president and past presi-

fire bases for backup from artillery and gunships when they engaged the enemy in the field.

“There were times I didn’t think I’d make it,” Lowe said.

COMING HOME

Emery “Buzz” Lowe said, “I was one of the lucky ones. I made it back without a scratch.” dent.

MILITARY LIFE “I was born and raised here in Ludington and I used to pedal papers for Ken Case,” Lowe recalled about his childhood.

He graduated from LHS in 1968 and received his draft notice in 1969.

His Army training began at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and he married Debbie during a furlough between basic

training and advanced infantry training he would receive at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

“And I spent six months in Fort Benning, Georgia, for special advanced combat training,” he said. “I figured the more training I got, the better off I’d be.

“After training, I went to Vietnam.”

Lowe then served in Vietnam with the air cavalry from April 11, 1970 to March 14, 1971.

“That’s when Nixon started bringing our troops back, our 1st Cav,” he said.

Lowe didn’t say much recently about his experiences during the war, but did provide some information.

“It was scary,” he said. “In 1970 is when we went into Cambodia. I was involved in that. That’s where we got our butts kicked.”

He also remembered the weather, since most of his time was spent patrolling

JEFF KIESSEL | DAILY NEWS

and sleeping in the field after being dropped by helicopter at specified locations.

“There was monsoon season and you were out in the elements,” Lowe said. “It was about this time of year over there — our fall.

“Once in a while you would get to go back to a firebase, but most of the time you would spend in the field,” he said, adding that the troops depended on the

Lowe was one of the Vietnam War veterans who returned to America and was spit on by an anti-war protestor.

“I had that happen at LA Airport when I came home.

I didn’t have any civilian dress,” he said.

That incident occurred in spring 1971, 46 years ago.

“Back home, it wasn’t really bad,” Lowe recalled. “A lot of guys from Ludington didn’t go. There were not a lot from my class — I think only two of them.

“It was hard to talk about,” he said. “They wouldn’t understand what was going on.”

But that didn’t dim Lowe’s strongest feeling.

“I was glad to be home,” he said.

Lowe said treatment of Vietnam War veterans wasn’t really generous in the 1970s either.

“They didn’t hire me because I was a vet,” he said about job interviews he had at the time. “It’s been just the last 10 to 15 years that I get a lot of thank-yous and handshakes, but I’ve been wearing my colors more.

“And nobody spit on me since then.”

WAR VETERANS GATHER Lowe was one of 36 Vietnam War veterans who gathered at Ludington’s American Legion Post on Sept. 30 to commemorate their service to their country.

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WSCC deemed a veteran-friendly college VICTORY TWP. — The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) recently announced that 70 colleges, universities and professional trade schools from across the state have been recognized as 2017 Veteran-Friendly Schools.

For the third year, West Shore Community College earned a silver–level certification for the 2017-18 academic year.

The program awards bronze, silver or gold-level status to the participating educational institutions for their commitment to providing on-campus, veterancentric services to student DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO veterans and dependents A half-dozen veterans shared stories of their service, of loss of friends, and of what it means to utilizing a GI Bill and other serve in the military during a Veterans Club-sponsored event at West Shore Community College. educational benefits. This Dr. Rick Plummer, right, a Vietnam veteran and a retired WSCC professor, has helped lead past is the program’s third year; programs at the college.

65 schools participated in

PATTI KLEVORN | DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO

Area Vietnam-era veterans gathered at the American Legion for a Daughters of the American Revolution event. Included in the photo are Charles Argetsinger, C Dale Bannon, Stan Bennette, Mike Braybrooke, Dot Brown, Tom Clapper, Bruce Claveau, Tania Cornett, Mike D. Charles, (Joe) Woodrow Chrisple, George Etchison, Gina Foster, Robert Greiner, Marv Hanna, Mike Harmon, Ken Hasenbank, Ron Jabrocki, Keith Johnson, Gary Klemm, Buzz Lowe, Fred Bentz, Carl Matlock, Mike Morrow, Clyde Nelson, Russ Odean, Anna Pearo, Lonnie Pearo, Larry Pierce, Rick Plummer, Larry Rogner, Nat Rosales, Marialice Sagan, Paul Shereda, Dale Shimel, Jim Shorts, Robert Tanis, Terry Usuff, Robert Vandenheuvel, David VanHouten, Richard VanVoorst, and Lou Wolven.

BUZZ: ‘It’s going to go on for a long time. You still have a lot of guys out there hurting …’

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The event was sponsored by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

“It was good. I think the guys really enjoyed it,” Lowe said. “A lot of them, I didn’t know they were veterans until they showed up. I was surprised.

“I think they’re going to have them every year,” he said about the event to honor veterans.

RELIVING THE WAR The recent 10-part PBS documentary “The Vietnam War” by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick brought a lot of memories of the war back to Lowe, who said he watched many of the episodes.

“He was point-on,” Lowe said about the show.

He didn’t much care for the early episodes that explored the beginnings of the war, back to the French colonial treatment of the Vietnamese before France

withdrew its forces after losing the 1954 battle of Dien Bien Phu. American military advisors were then sent to Vietnam to help the South Vietnam government stay in power.

“We should have given it back to them (the Vietnamese). I don’t think it would be any different than it is now, except there’d be a lot of life left.

“You can’t bring them back.”

The Defense Casualty Analysis System Extract Files contain records of 58,220 U.S. military fatal casualties of the Vietnam War. The U.S. military has estimated between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers were killed during the war.

In 1995, Vietnam released its official estimate of the number of people who were killed during the war. The estimate lists 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet

Cong killed and as many as 2 million civilians killed during the war.

“We’re still paying for it with the VA (Veterans Administration) and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and homeless veterans,” Lowe said. “It’s going to go on for a long time.

You still have a lot of guys out there hurting from this thing.

“And there were the other (wars),” he said, referring to the fact that U.S. mili-

tary lives have been lost in Grenada, Panama, Bosnia, Somalia, Iraq — in two wars — and Afghanistan since the Vietnam War ended.

“I don’t know why we just can’t all get along. Wars are not fun,” he said.

Lowe said he was happy when the war ended for him.

“My daughter (Terry) was six weeks old before I left for Vietnam. I was glad to be back,” he said.

“I could have stayed in, but I had enough of it.”

2016 and 57 in 2015.

“The continued growth of MVAA’s Veteran-Friendly School Program demonstrates the dedication our state’s academic institutions have to the success of our student veteran population,” said MVAA Director James Robert Redford.

“Michigan is fortunate to have top quality educational institutions that maintain high standards of support and services for our growing population of veterans and their families.

The program makes it easy for students to identify which schools are invested in their success, and we greatly appreciate the commitment of this year’s participants.”

An estimated 16,458 military-connected students

are attending the 70 ranked institutions throughout Michigan for the 2017 academic year.

Criteria the schools must meet include having an active student-operated veterans club or association; veteran-specific career services or advising; an on-campus veteran’s coordinator and awarding credit based on prior military training and experience.

The veteran-friendly designation is available to any institution of higher learning eligible to receive veteran education benefits, regardless of size, location or program delivery. Institutions apply annually for a designation, with an application and review process conducted every spring semester.

We Thank You For Your Service Honoring Our

Heroes LARSON'S SELF STORAGE Office: 263 N. Jebavy Dr., Ludington

Saluting Those Who Served

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merica’s heroes are being honored throughout the country Friday — and Mason County is no exception.

Ceremonies to remember and celebrate local veterans begin with a Veterans Day breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. at O.J. DeJonge Middle School. A Veterans Day assembly, hosted by the Mason County Allied Veterans Council in cooperation with the Ludington Area School District, will take place at 8:15 a.m. at Ludington High School’s Peterson Auditorium. The public is encouraged to attend. The ceremony will feature a special guest speaker and a Powerpoint presentation for veterans. The American Legion will also be present.

HOSPITAL HONORS Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital will also be celebrating local veterans on Friday at the flagpole adjacent to the hospital’s main entrance.

The American flag will be raised by Army veteran Leona Ashley and Crystal

Events to honor veterans

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Cole, whos is a registered nurse and veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Speakers at the hospital ceremony include H.R. business partner Jill Vasquez and Tammy Middlebrook, M.D. Dr. Middlebrook served as a U.S. Navy doctor with six years of active duty, and an additional two years in active reserve. Following the presentations, the national anthem will be sung by Taylor Makowicki, daughter of Ed Makowicki, who is a pharmacist and Navy veteran.

In addition to everyone associated with the hospital, members of the public, patients, visitors and their families are invited to participate in the ceremony to thank and remember all the men and women of the American military.

Those unable to make the trip to Ludington schools or the hospital are welcome to attend local ceremonies at Sherman Oaks Manor, Oakview Medical Care Facility and other locations.

Friday, Nov. 10

8 -10 a.m. — Veterans Day Breakfast Buffet O.J. DeJonge Middle School gym. All veterans welcome; dropin any time during two-hour period, before, after or during the ceremony in Peterson Auditorium.

8:15-8:45 a.m. — Mason County Allied Veterans Council Veterans Day Ceremony, Ludington High School’s Peterson Auditorium with special guest speaker to be announced Friday.

11 a.m. — Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital Ceremony at the flagpole near the hospital entrance Noon — American Legion Women’s Auxiliary Luncheon All veterans welcome, regardless of membership, American Legion Post 76 - Edwin H. Ewing, 318 N. James St., Ludington

American Legion Honor Guard Ceremonies 11 a.m. — Ludington Woods Assisted Living 1:30 p.m. — Sherman Oaks Manor 2:30 p.m. — Oakview Medical Care Facility 3:30 p.m. — Tendercare of Ludington

VETERANS EVENTS - SATURDAY

Saturday, Nov. 11

11 a.m. to 1 a.m. — All day free meals for veterans Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grille, 3881 U.S. 10, Ludington 2 p.m. — Veterans Social Enjoy food and drinks at Tendercare of Ludington 8 -11 p.m. — Karaoke at American Legion Post 76 Mason County Central will host a veterans panel on Monday, Nov. 13. To learn more, contact the middle school at 7573724 or email Phil at pquinlan@mccschools.org.

Bruce Visniski, Spectrum’s director of surgery and a U.S. Army veteran, and Paul Hein, Spectrum MRI technician and a U.S. Army veteran, raise a flag Friday for Veterans Day.

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Veterans Mall — in honor of service Created, dedicated in 2017 as an addition to war monument

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William Charette — Medal of Honor Putting his life at risk to save fellow servicemen

BY THE LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS STAFF

BY KEVIN BRACISZESKI DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Medal citation for William Charette

In the summer of 2017, Mason County residents were graced with a new, enduring tribute to the sacrifices of America’s veterans.

More than 200 people gathered at Stearns Park on the afternoon of Sunday, June 25 to honor the service of local veterans and to celebrate the completion of the Veterans Mall.

The service included a tribute to Ludington native and Medal of Honor recipient William R. Charette, whose bronze likeness graces one of the statues that now make up the Veterans Mall in Stearns Park.

In addition to the bronze bust of Charette that was unveiled, the Veterans Mall now also includes a sculpture “Ascent of Heroism,” which was created by artist Paula Slater, who also created Charette’s bust. The mall also includes the Veterans Memorial, which was installed in 1958.

The Milan S. “Bud” Reed family paid for the “Ascent of Heroism” sculpture, while the rest of the mall, including the William R. Charette sculpture, was paid for through community donations, large and small.

The June 25 dedication of the Veterans Mall lined up with what would have been Reed’s 93rd birthday.

It was fitting timing as the Reed family donated the “Ascent of Heroism” sculpture, paying the $92,000 cost as a way of honoring veterans of all American wars.

Brothers Todd and Milan S. “Budde” Reed II gave their late father’s signature thumbs up to mark the occasion and those attending the dedication gave their

He was a hometown boy who did his job the way it needed to be done even though it meant putting his life at great risk to save others.

His actions on March 27, 1953 even led to William R. Charette receiving the Medal of Honor in Washington, D.C., from President Dwight D. Eisenhower, on Jan. 12, 1954.

“William Charette grew up in Ludington and worked on the (PM) 22 (carferry) and he is the most decorated veteran in Mason County,” Budde Reed, a Vietnam War veteran, said about why it is appropriate to honor Charette with the installation of a bronze bust of the Navy hospital corpsman at the new Veterans Mall at Stearns Park.

In the eyes of the world, the late William Charette is a hero who used his body to protect a Marine from an exploding grenade, used his armored vest to protect another wounded Marine and saved the lives of other Marines while he was wounded by shrapnel during the 18hour Korean War battle.

In the eyes of Charette’s sister, Peg Ezdebski of Ludington, Bill was a shy little brother.

“He was far too shy,” she said.

“I was 7 years older and I had to get after him because I thought he could have been doing better in school,” Ezdebski said about their childhood in Ludington. “We were probably as close as any brother and sister could be because all we had was each other.”

The two were orphaned at an early age — Bill at 6 and Peggy at 12. They were cared

The following is the wording of the citation that awarded the Medal of Honor to Ludington native William R. Charette for his actions during a Korean War battle: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action against enemy aggressor forces during the early morning hours.

Participating in a fierce encounter with a cleverly concealed and well-entrenched enemy force occupying positions on a vital and bitterly contested outpost far in advance of the main line of resistance, HC3c (Hospital Corpsman Third Class) Charette repeatedly and unhesitatingly moved about through a murderous barrage of hostile small-arms and mortar fire to render assistance to his wounded comrades. When an enemy grenade landed within a few feet of a Marine he was attending, he immediately threw himself upon the stricken man and absorbed the entire concussion of the deadly missile with his body. Although sustaining painful facial wounds, and undergoing shock from the intensity of the blast which ripped the helmet and medical aid kit from his person, HC3c.

Charette resourcefully improvised emergency bandages by tearing off part of his clothing, and gallantly continued to administer medical aid to the wounded in his own unit and to those in adjacent platoon areas as well. Observing a seriously wounded comrade whose armored vest had

“Ascent of Heroism” by Paula Slater is among the sculptures at the new Veterans Mall at Stearns Park. mother, Dorothy, a round of applause.

The Reeds provided the “Ascent of Heroism” sculpture, connected with sculptor Paula Slater of national monument fame, and helped coordinate the creation of the Charette bust.

But Budde said it took a village to create the entire Veterans Mall at Stearns Park, with all work coordinated through the Mason County Allied Veterans Council.

“Bud would look around at what this community — together — has built here and would give us his pat-

ented thumbs up sign of approval,” Todd Reed told the crowd.

The City of Ludington has been a partner in the entire project.

The work at the Stearns Park site has included refurbishing the original granite memorial at the center of Stearns Park, around which the mall was created.

Cleaning the old monument — which was installed at the park in 1958 as a war memorial — was part of the process of transforming the site into the Veterans Mall.

“It might have been the most important thing we

did,” Budde, who was involved in the creation of the Veterans Mall, said about refreshing the 59-year-old monument.

“Someone then had the vision to create a space that is hallowed where we gather every Memorial Day to honor our fallen,” he said.

“Their vision was to have a war memorial in the busiest of all our parks. Their vision is why we still have Memorial Day at the old monument.”

Michelle Hemmer, president of the Mason County Allied Veterans Council, also said cleaning the war

memorial was important to the current project.

“We felt it was important to rededicate the war memorial because it is now part of a larger display,” Hemmer said. “It’s getting a facelift by the company that put the new sculptures in place. It’s the same style of facelift given to structures in Arlington National Cemetery.”

Hemmer also said the granite that the war memorial is made of is the same granite used for the bases for the two new sculptures and the benches that will be placed at Veterans Mall.

JEFF KIESSEL | DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO

THE MONUMENT It stands as a six-sided granite column at the site and holds the names and dates of many of America’s wars on five of those sides.

The east side is inscribed with an image of an eagle supporting a shield and the words “Valor,” and “For God and country.”

The dedication reads: “Dedicated in grateful tribute to the living and dead who through their valiant efforts and bitter sacrifice have made and kept America great.”

JEFF KIESSEL | DAILY NEWS FILE PHOTO

Peggy Ezdebski looks at the bust of her brother, the late William Charette, for the first time at the dedication of Ludington’s new Veterans Mall in Stearns Park. Ezdebski was emotional and proud of her brother, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War. for by their uncle Albert Furlong, but only until he was drafted into the Army during World War II. Then they lived with other family members and family friends.

Bill graduated from St. Simon High School in 1950 and became a Navy hospital corpsman in 1951, which led to his service in Korea.

“He was just a plain, ordinary kind of guy and he always felt he didn’t deserve it (the Medal of Honor) and it was hard for him to accept because he was on the shy

side.

“He was doing what he had to do and he just kept doing it,” Ezdebski said about Charette’s actions in battle. “In that battle, he was the only corpsman who got out alive.

“He never talked about it, but one time in Florida, out of the clear blue sky, he said, ‘I knew I was going to die that day, but I just kept doing what I had to do,’” she said.

Ezdebski and her family attended the ceremony for the new Veterans Mall in-

stalled at Stearns Park — a space designed to honor all veterans, but especially Charette, who has a bronze bust there in his honor.

“I know he would be very pleased,” Ezdebski said about the memorial and bust, and especially the location.

“That was one of his favorite places in the world — Lake Michigan,” she said. kevinb@ludingtondailynews.com 843-1122 x346

been torn from his body by the blast from an exploding shell, he selflessly removed his own battle vest and placed it upon the helpless man although fully aware of the added jeopardy to himself. Moving to the side of another casualty who was suffering excruciating pain from a serious leg wound, HC3c. Charette stood upright in the trench line and exposed himself to a deadly hail of enemy fire in order to lend more effective aid to the victim and to alleviate his anguish while being removed to a position of safety. By his indomitable courage and inspiring efforts in behalf of his wounded comrades, HC3c. Charette was directly responsible for saving many lives. His great personal valor reflects the highest credit upon himself and enhances the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.”

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Local veterans services

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Never too late to thank a veteran Honoring service men and women at end-of-life

Organizations offer camaraderie, appreciation and help for those who served American Legion Post 76 American Legion - Edwin H. Ewing Post 76, founded in 1919, was named after a WWI veteran. The Legion, located at 318 N. James Street, is open to members and guests for social events and meetings throughout the month. Several special groups are part of the Legion, including the Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion, Legion Riders and the Honor Guard and Color Guard. Sons of the Legion is for those who are not veterans but have a parent or grandparent who is a veteran. The Legion Riders have a special interest in motorcycles. The Honor Guard takes part in funerals and remembrances for deceased veterans and the Color Guard has taken part in ceremonies at football games, Memorial Day and Veterans Day activities.

Both are composed of the same men and women, but serve different functions.

They are all volunteers for this special group.

In addition the Legion offers members the opportunity to consult with a VA officer on Wednesdays, and with the post service officer to learn about the availability of benefits. Various social events take place each week, including dinners and dances.

Any service man or woman currently on active duty is welcome at the post as well as those who are part of the local Coast Guard station.

Membership is open to those who served in any branch of the armed services during specific years. The Post Commander is Lou Wolven. For information on how to join, contact Lou Wolven at (231) 690-4827.

“We are looking for more vets to join,” said Wolven.

He said it is important for returning service men and women to be able to sit down and talk to a brother or a sister.

“We’re looking for anyone to join, especially the younger ones since 9/11,” Wolven said.

bert E. Brimmer VFW Post 6842 started in Ludington in 1987. As the name indicates, members have served in wars around the globe.

The Mason County Allied Veter- Those who were in the armed serans Council is an umbrella organi- vices during wartime but were not zation that includes the Ludington in combat zones are not eligible American Legion, Custer and Lud- to join, but may join the Amvets ington Veterans of Foreign War or American Legion. Meetings are (VFW) posts and Ludington Am- held monthly at the American LeVets. Each organization serves vet- gion. To join or for information, erans by offering camaraderie and call Commander Lou Wolven, (231) assisting them in navigating need- 690-4827, or trustee Stan McCuled resources after their time in the len, 845-8587. military.

Often the organization serves Custer VFW Gold Bar Post the community. Membership varies on the type of service the vetCuster VFW Gold Bar Post has its eran had. Michelle Hemmer is the own clubhouse in Custer on Route current president of the MCAVC. 10. Membership requirements are The two main events headed by the same as those for the LudingMCAVC are the Memorial Day ob- ton post. Social events open to the servance and Veterans Day recog- public such as steak dinners and nition.

Thursday night dances are fundraisers for the post. In addition there is an auxiliary for those who Veterans of Foreign Wars have a parent or grandparent who VFW Post 6842 was a veteran. For information, call the Post at (231) 757-9665.

Veterans of Foreign Wars — Del-

Mason County Allied Veterans Council

helps veterans and their famiMichelle lies who have “fallen through the Hemmer, cracks” and have been unable to Mason obtain help through other agenCounty cies.

Allied VeterFunds are available for emerans Council gency needs to Mason County president, veterans “faster and with less assists red tape” than through some othDuane Dew- er sources, said Hemmer. Money, Medal ey for the fund is raised primarof Honor ily through donations, but larger recipient community events such as the who lives in Lake Jump in 2016 and the TravIrons, to his eling Vietnam Wall in 2014 have seat prior to also helped to increase the enthe Veterans dowment.

Mall dedicaA patriotic concert, held each tion. year around the Fourth of July at United Methodist Church of Ludington, also benefits the Veterans JEFF KIESSEL | Endowment Fund. The concert is DAILY NEWS FILE put on by Becky Sopha, Lou WilPHOTO son and Elliot Plummer. Free-will offerings are collected at the concert and dedicated to the fund.

“That’s been a remarkable source of revenue for the fund, and we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the community AMVETS at that event,” Rick Plummer said.

The name stands for American If you wish to donate, or if you Veterans and was founded after are a veteran in need of help, conWorld War II and chartered by Con- tact Michelle Hemmer, (231) 690gress in 1947. The William Cha- 5845 or Rick Plummer, (231) 852rette Post 82 was founded locally 0685 or email michelle.hemmer@ in 1982 and named after the local gmail.com or rick@mchshistory.

Navy Medal of Honor winner. Mem- org. bership is open to any honorably discharged veteran who served Lakeshore Vets 4 Vets from World War II to the present in any branch including NationAlso known as LV4V, the Lakeal Guard. Meetings are held at the shore Vets 4 Vets organization American Legion. For information is just shy of two years old. The contact Commander Lou Wolven, purpose of this group is to gather (231) 690-4827. local veterans together who have served in the last 25 or 30 years.

“It provides socialization and Veterans Endowment Fund support more appealing to the In 2009 Budde Reed and Rick younger veterans of Mason, Plummer, both Vietnam veter- Oceana, Lake and Manistee counans, established the Veterans En- ties. They rely more on social medowment Fund, which is admin- dia for communication,” Michelle istered through the Community Hemmer said.

Foundation. Since then Michelle Additional information can be Hemmer and Gary Ferguson have obtained on Facebook (@lakealso become board members. Ac- shorevets4vets), or via email at cording to Hemmer, the fund lakeshoreveterans@gmail.com.

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All his life, Lewis Woodruff was proud of his service as a United States Army Air Forces crew chief. Between 1944 and 1946, he worked on the B-17 and B-28 bombers used during World War II, sacrificing and dedicating his life to his country. After his discharge from the Army Air Forces, Lewis built a house in Southfield, where he and his wife, Helen, would spend the next seven decades raising seven children, who gave them 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Lewis lived a good life.

He enjoyed being a veteran and was a member of AMVETS and the American Legion. While he never spoke of the details, Lewis would fondly remark about his time in the service.

Ron Nitchie, a Unites States Air Force veteran and spiritual care advisor for Arbor Hospice and Hospice of Michigan, had the privilege of supporting Lewis in his final days.

Coupled with his own military experience and clinical pastoral education training from the Veterans Affairs hospital in Detroit, Ron provides special assistance and spiritual guidance to help veteran patients, like Lewis,

Veteran Lewis Woodruff gets pinned, as an honor for his service, by Ron Nitchie, a Unites States Air Force veteran, before his death. at the end of life.

Veterans who work or volunteer with hospice have the unique ability to relate and connect with other veterans at a critical time in life due to their shared military training and history. They share a cultural bond that opens a door of trust and communication, as they understand each other’s physical (war injuries) and emotional needs (survivor guilt, post-traumatic disorder, etc.).

Part of the support Ron provides to veteran patients involves pinning ceremonies for members of all the military branches. When Ron learned of Lewis’ service to his country, he offered his

family the opportunity to honor Lewis with an American flag pin and a certificate to honor and thank him for his service.

With Lewis in his hospital bed, located in the family room of the house he built in 1946, his wife Helen, and daughters Lori and Lisa, gathered with the HOM care team at his bedside, as Ron read the words of appreciation on the certificate aloud.

“We pay special tribute to you for your military service to America, and for advancing the universal hope of freedom and liberty for all,” said Ron as he placed an American flag pin on Lewis’s hospital gown. Asked if he

still loved his country, Lewis, holding back tears through his closed eyes, responded with a resounding “yes.”

During the final moments of that pinning ceremony, Ron succeeded in getting Lewis to open his eyes for a moment to see Ron saluting him. Lewis proudly saluted back, as a World War II Army Air Force veteran.

According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), one out of every four dying Americans is a veteran. For Hospice of Michigan, veterans account for 25 percent of all its patients. The nonprofit hospice agency offers enhanced care specifically designed

to meet the unique needs of veteran patients, celebrating and honoring those who have served in the U.S. military through pinning ceremonies, like the one that paid tribute to Lewis Woodruff.

Through We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Hospice of Michigan integrates veteran-specific content into training staff members and volunteers, and educates its patients and their families on services and benefits offered to members of the military. The organization makes every effort

to pair veteran patients with those who have a military service background. Hospice of Michigan is proud of its Level Four status with We Honor Veterans, which signifies the organization has met the highest standards set by the VA and NHPCO for this national program. As America celebrates Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Hospice of Michigan extends special appreciation to all military service members and their families for their sacrifice to protect the freedom of others. For information about Hospice of Michigan and its involvement with We Honor Veterans, please visit www.hom. org.

REMEMBERING

THOSE WHO

SERVED

This Veterans Day, we honor and give thanks to all veterans who served and sacrificed to ensure our freedom.

Saluting thoSe Who Were there Stan Bennette Associate Broker

5492 W. US 10, Ludington

(231) 690-1190

sdbennette@greenridge.com

Former Marine Staff Sargent.

1st Marine Air Wing, Vietnam Veteran

1944 W. US 10 (Between Ludington & Scottville)

231-757-4761

12 |

LUDINGTON DAILY NEWS/VETERANS TAB

| FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2017

WELCOME VETERANS AND FAMILIES! We are proud to offer veterans and their families special incentives for their service to our country. With our excellent customer service and low low prices, we have vowed that our service member's will receive a superior vehicle buying experience.

Come and experience the difference here at Urka Auto Center.

We’d like to invite all Veterans and their families to stop in on November 11, 2017 and let us say Thank You For Your Service. Be certain to sign our “Military Wall of Honor”.

Come share cider, coffee and donuts with us, all day. We are open 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Thank You Veterans $

100, $70 or $50 Mail-in Rebate (Debit Card)* ON PURCHASE OF FOUR TIRES ELIGIBLE TIRE BRANDS: Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Hankook - $100 BF Goodrich, Michelin - $70 Firestone, General - $50 *See dealer for details and rebate form, which must be postmarked by 12-30-17.

Rebate form and official rules also available at mycertifiedservicerebates.com.

Allow 6 to 8 weeks for rebate. Offer runs 09-01-17 thru 11-30-2017. See service advisor for details.

FREE FRONT END ALIGNMENT CHECK WITH 4 TIRE PURCHASE SEE SERVICE ADVISOR FOR DETAILS.

URKA AUTO CENTER CHEVROLET • BUICK www.urkaauto.com

URKA AUTO CENTER

3736 W. US-10 (TOLL FREE) 888-462-8752 • (231) 845-6282