December 2023

Holiday Season at MVH

The Holiday Season brings much to be thankful for at MVH. Our veterans are blessed through the generosity of many individuals, organizations, and community partners who selflessly give their time, talents, and treasures to our mission. That generosity is often amplified during this giving season, and the beneficiaries remain those members we serve.

On behalf of Michigan Veteran Homes, we share our gratitude with all of you: the many people and organizations who believe our work is worth supporting, and that our veterans deserve the best care and quality of life Michigan can provide. We thank you, and hope each of you has a tremendous holiday season.

Retiring the Colors at MVH at Grand Rapids

In November, Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids had the privilege (again) of partnering with Home supporters to retire the colors for another year. 

If you haven't driven by the iconic MVHGR campus in the summer, make the drive. A massive Old Glory - about 30' x 60' - furls in the west Michigan winds throughout the summer, tied between two large trees on the Home's front lawn: a keen reminder of, and tribute to, the sacrifices of the men and women who've worn the uniform of our nation.

Every spring the flag is hoisted, and every fall the flag is retired, and put away warmly for another winter. Thanks is due to the many volunteers and support organizations that make this possible, including Eric Nelson, the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard, and others. You can follow the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard on Facebook.

At Michigan Veteran Homes, we provide skilled nursing care and quality of life to veterans and their loved ones. But our campuses and our mission are much more than skilled care. We're community partners, and our work in serving those men and women who've served us symbolizes the American commitment to men and women who've sacrificed on our behalf.

Wreaths Across America at MVHGR

If you, your family, or your organization is seeking a humbling opportunity to honor the lives and legacies of Michigan Veterans this holiday season, consider joining Wreaths Across America, volunteers, and community members on December 16, 2023 at 12 p.m. at the MVHGR Cemetery. Those interested can sponsor a wreath, volunteer, or invite friends to join in the laying of thousands of wreaths on the final resting place of our veterans. Learn more by visiting the link above.

Celebrating Service with MVH

At Michigan Veteran Homes, we're fortunate to celebrate those who've served every day. Nonetheless, Veterans Day annually brings an extra-special opportunity at MVH to celebrate our members, their lives, and their service - and this year was no different in that regard. In Grand Rapids, the Home continued the annual tradition of the "Veterans Day 5," hosting a .5-mile Remembrance Walk, a 5k, and 5-mile run, followed by a pancake breakfast: a great success. In Marquette, MVH D.J. Jacobetti held their annual Veterans Day ceremony in their chapel on 11/11 at 11 a.m. (an always well-attended event), while MVH at Chesterfield Township held their annual ceremony on Veterans Day as well. MVH at Chesterfield Township was also visited the day before with the gift of music, when three 1st grade classrooms from Naldrett Elementary sang songs for the members and wished them a Happy Veterans Day.

Overall, November 11th and the week leading up to Veterans Day was - again - special for MVH members. Blessed by the generosity of many, Michigan Veteran Homes are communities that honor service, sacrifice, and those men and women who've nobly served our nation. They stood for us, and now we stand for them. We hope all veterans had a meaningful Veterans Day.

Accountable to Our Stakeholders: Our Veterans, their Families and the People of Michigan

At Michigan Veteran Homes, we're proud of the care and quality of life we're providing to those we serve. We're partners in our communities, and our work is made possible and our mission fulfilled through both public and private funding sources. As such, MVH believes it imperative to ensure transparency and accountability to our many diverse stakeholders. That's why we've put together a brief Executive Summary, sharing some of our highlights of FY2023. The summary will complement the more comprehensive MI Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs Annual Report, which will be released after the holidays.

MVH's FY2023 Executive Summary.

A Busy Season of Enriching Lives at MVH

The holidays are a busy season at MVH. See below for a glimpse of what's been happening around MVH:

• Dr. Dave Rutledge was reappointed to the Michigan Veterans' Facility Authority Board of Directors.
• The Army Band Woodwind Ensemble recently played for members of MVHGR.
• MVHDJJ employee Zach Heikkila was the Home's "Beyond the Call of Duty" Award winner for November.
• MVHCT put up their "Veterans Giving Tree" in early November.
• U.S. Representative Elissa Slotkin stopped by MVHGR on Veterans Day to thank veterans for their service.
• MVHGR hosted the West Michigan Veterans Coalition (WMVC) for the WMVC's Quarterly Partners Meeting.
• Follow MVH on Social Media to stay up to date.

Deer Camp at MVH D.J. Jacobetti

In the northwoods, tradition brings the mass disappearance of many spouses every November, as hunters head to camp for a few weeks to bring down the ever-elusive big buck. MVH D.J. Jacobetti keeps that tradition alive for its members, as it hosts its own deer camp every fall.

This year at camp, Jacobetti members enjoyed "Big Buck$ Bingo," a hunting movie, deer camp stories, some nerf-style marksmanship, venison stew, and more. 

Unfortunately, there are sometimes misinformed perceptions on what life is like in a nursing home. At Michigan Veteran Homes, we pride ourselves on delivering the care and quality of life worthy of those who've worn the uniform. Deer camp at Jacobetti is just one of many examples of how MVH ensures the member experience in our homes is second-to-none. At MVH, care and quality of life are part of the same experience.

If you're an individual or an organization that wants to join the mission of serving veterans in late-in-life and end-of-life care, consider supporting the work of Michigan Veteran Homes with your time, talents, and/or treasures. It's meaningful work, and we're always welcoming new partners to serve those men and women who've served us.

Pomp and Circumstance with Members of MVH at Chesterfield Twp

The Michigan Military & Veterans Gala, hosted by the MI Dept. of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA), was held in Novi on Nov. 5, 2023. Members from MVH at Chesterfield Township were fortunate to attend - with more than 500 others - for an evening filled with great food and drink, and even better camaraderie: an evening they won't soon forget.

The gala is a formal event held annually, with a program, award presentations, music, dancing, social opportunities, and more, to celebrate service - those who've served, and those still serving - and to honor Michigan's men and women of uniform as "members for life." When a Michigander swears an oath and dons the uniform, they become a member of our Michigan family of service. And when those men and women of service need skilled nursing care, MVH is here to serve them with the care and quality of life they earned, and deserve.

Photos of the amazing evening at the 2023 Gala can be viewed here.