August 2025
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Every season is special at Michigan Veteran Homes. Summer, however,...there's just something about it. MVH at Grand Rapids held their annual 'Summer Celebration' event in late July to embrace this wonderful (albeit hot) season, and to share joy, smiles, and entertainment with MVH veterans and their loved ones. Food trucks, games, a dunk tank, live music, and enjoyment were all included. In Chesterfield, July saw - amongst many other outdoor activities - the annual bike rally, hosted by American Legion Post 4 Mount Clemens. Once again, these remarkably generous bikers showed up and showed out for our veterans, as the event seems to grow every year. And north of the bridge, our friends at Vietnam Veterans of America Ch. 237 and American Legion Post 131 hosted the 20th annual fish fry at the Jacobetti, which yielded full stomachs and many smiles from the fresh and delicious whitefish, music from the Munising City Band, and more. And to cap off the month, the Jake hosted the 2025 Nathan Koski Memorial Car Show at the Home. These were just a few of the amazing opportunities we had throughout July for the veterans of MVH - thanks to the many people who support our mission.
Whether it's volunteering for activities like the Summer Celebration, grounds clean-up, or otherwise, there are many opportunities to get involved with the mission and members of MVH throughout the seasons at our locations in Grand Rapids, Marquette, and Chesterfield Township. If you're an individual, organization, or other group large or small wanting to impact the lives of veterans - consider how your time, talents, or treasures might be put to work for veterans at MVH.
Learn more at www.michigan.gov/MVH.
Want to spend your Saturday morning, November 8th, with veterans and community members in West Michigan, enjoying breakfast, celebrating service, and going for a walk, run, or roll? Of course you do!
Join MVH at Grand Rapids for its annual 'Veterans Day 5,' offering options for a .5-mile Remembrance Walk/Roll, a timed 5k, or a timed 5-miler - concluding with a pancake breakfast. In early and out before lunch, the annual event brings community together to celebrate service and to connect and honor the veterans of MVH, and veterans everywhere.
You can register to participate, volunteer, or donate at the link below. Additionally, there are sponsorship opportunities. Please contact DMVA-MVHgiving@michigan.gov for information about the sponsorship opportunities available.
All proceeds from the event are deposited in the Home's Charitable Support Fund, supporting the veterans of MVH.
Another amazing year with the Blues. The Marquette Blues, sponsored by American Legion Post 44, took on the South Central U.P. a few weeks back. And as they do every year, they invited veterans from MVH D.J. Jacobetti out to celebrate Veterans Night at the game. The annual event, started years ago, is something veterans from Jake look forward to every summer - and this year was no exception. Smiles dotted the ballpark, and a younger generation of ballplayers got to spend some time with a senior generation of men and women who've sacrificed so ballgames on pleasant summer evenings can still take place. Thank you to American Legion Post 44, the Blues, and all involved for - again - making this special for veterans at the Jake.
Michigan's veteran homes in Grand Rapids, Marquette, and Chesterfield Township are 3 of more than 170 State Veterans Homes across the nation. Each owned and operated by the individual States, State Veterans Homes arose in the aftermath of the Civil War, caring for those who bore the burden of America's deadliest war. While State Veterans Homes differ State to State, they have the common interest in ensuring the best possible care and quality of life for the men and women who've worn the uniform of our nation - and often common interests in Washington.
As State Veteran Homes provide the lion's share of long-term care beds to veterans across the country, it's no surprise leaders in Lansing, Washington, and elsewhere pay attention to the needs of State Veterans Homes. For example, in March, the bipartisan bill H.R. 1970 - the Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act - was introduced in Congress to address the issue of high-cost medication reimbursement to State Veterans Homes for higher service-connected disabled veterans. Endorsed by the Disabled American Veterans, the bill - at the time of this writing - has 28 cosponsors, including Michigan Representatives Bergman, Tlaib, Scholten, and Barrett, amongst Representatives from other States as well.
Indeed, serving those who've served us is all of our responsibility. We're grateful for the many leaders in local, state, and federal government that support the mission and veterans we're privileged to serve.
At MVH, our veterans are fortunate to be beneficiaries of the generosity of so many individuals and organizations. For that, we're incredibly grateful. Amongst many of those displays of generosity last month, MVH D.J. Jacobetti was visited by the incredibly talented thirteen-year-old pianist, Han Han Savitski. Han Han recently took first prize at a competition in Taipei, and competed in Bangkok in late July, after his stop in Marquette, MI.
But how does such generosity arise? Han Han's grandmother used to be a member at MVH D.J. Jacobetti, and Han Han is now able to share his artistic talents with the veterans of Jacobetti, just like his grandmother did when she lived here. We're all connected, and we're all certainly connected to those who've sacrificed for our freedoms. Thanks, Han Han - we can't wait until you visit again!
Michigan has been caring for veterans on the MVH at Grand Rapids campus since the late 1800s. Much has changed in healthcare since the post-Civil War era, and things continue to change in care delivery and infrastructure to better serve our veterans today, and tomorrow. One of those forthcoming changes to our Grand Rapids campus is the demolition of the aged Mann and McLeish buildings, transforming the site's current footprint into accessible greenspace for veterans today, and potential for tomorrow.
For more than half of a century, these now vacant and aged buildings served as a care facility for veterans. In 2021, however, MVH opened a new, state-of-the-art facility to replace it on the campus - and to transition the Home and its operations to more modern operating standards, infrastructure, and care delivery models. The picture above shows the new, gray-roofed single-story facility to the left, and the aged, multi-story red brick buildings to the right. The two large red brick buildings are scheduled to undergo demolition. The white canopy is intended to be preserved and reset later for use by MVH veterans.
MVH's Director of Development and Strategic Engagement, Marine Corps veteran Ryan Engle, stated, "For more than century, this campus has undergone infrastructure and operations changes to meet the needs of veterans. This is the next evolution in our growth and development in serving veterans. For many decades, these soon-to-be demolished buildings served an important purpose. Today, they've aged passed their useful life, and certainly don't meet the standards we expect for veterans needing long-term care. Thanks to significant investment by our state and federal elected leaders, we have a brand-new facility to care for veterans. This project will create useful and enriching greenspace for current and future veterans and families, and it opens doors to future possibilities for MVH right here on site." Demolition is anticipated to be started this fall/winter, and to be completed by the spring. MVH has coordinated with more than a dozen local nonprofits and community organizations - many of which serve veterans - to donate and repurpose many items from the aged buildings that are no longer being utilized by MVH or its veterans.
It's just different at Michigan Veteran Homes. It's better. And that's because individuals, organizations, and communities share their love and generosity with our veterans. Fortunately, they share the love of fishing, too. Our friends at The Fallen Outdoors did a trip for our veterans at Chesterfield Twp again this year. And up north, our friends at Courage Incorporated took Jacobetti veterans out on Lake Independence, while Captain Ron Ritari helped a Navy veteran at Jacobetti close out July with an amazing Lake Superior fishing outing.
Getting our veterans outdoors and into new experiences - or experiences they once enjoyed regularly - is one of seemingly countless ways our generous supporters make a difference in the lives of our veterans. To The Fallen Outdoors, Courage Incorporated, and the so many other supporters who impact the lives of MVH veterans - THANK YOU!
Donations to Michigan Veteran Homes are tax-deductible under 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Michigan Veteran Homes are making a difference in the lives of Michigan veterans and their loved ones. Join us.
Want to learn more about participating in the representative democracy our veterans stood to protect? Visit the Michigan Voter Information Center.
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