Author: M3Admin

I’m not certain if the past year reminds me of a carnival Ferris wheel or an amusement park roller coaster. On the one hand, living with the pandemic and all of the seemingly daily updates make me feel like I’m going around and around in circles. On the other hand, it reminds me of the ups, downs, curves, twists, and turns of an amusement park roller coaster. I’m just not clear. Is there a hybrid of a combination of the two that I’m unaware of? If so, let me know so I can stay away. What a ride the pandemic has been! This crazy ride and its ups and downs and twist and turns have weighed heavy...

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day, and we would like to highlight Interim-Program Director Laura Lonsbery as she shares her story about her experience as a military spouse. Before we delve into Laura’s experiences, though, let us share with you the military service of Laura’s husband, Mike. Mike joined the Michigan Army National Guard in 1995 as part of the 119th Field Artillery. In 2001 after 9/11, he was assigned to airport security in Lansing. In his 24 year career, he spent 21 years with the 119th Charlie Battery out of Albion, MI, and three years with 119th HHB out of Lansing. He’s...

This year for Military Brat Day, we would like to share a little about a longtime staff member, Jo Cox. Born at Ft Dixon, New Jersey, Jo spent her very early years moving around while her father, Bruce R Cox CWO 4 was on active duty in the United States Army. She knows he served in Korea and that her mother and sister spoke of spending time in Texas, but most of Jo’s childhood was spent in Lansing, Michigan, where her father served a long career in the National Guard. He worked at the Armory in Lansing, and Jo has vivid memories of spending Christmas at the Armory with all of its smells...

If you are like me, you are familiar with the phrase “April showers bring May flowers.” That phrase speaks to a new day of hope, of sunshine awaiting us just around the corner of the gray and wet month of April. Yes, something good is awaiting us if we just be patient and hopeful. Something bright will come out of something gray. The sacrifices our veterans and their families make for our country can lead to many gray, rainy days in their lives. The VFW National Home for Children is the sunshine these sacrificing families need. Our singular purpose of existence is to repay our veteran families...

Today we want to share with you the story of a longtime staff member, Norm. Norm has worked at the VFW National Home for over twenty years, but he had a rich and colorful work history before that. When Norm first sat down for his interview, and I asked him how he came to work at the National Home, he said, “I never figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up.” Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Norm graduated with his Engineering degree from Febb College (now Cleveland State University) and worked for Cleveland’s local power company for about ten years. He ended up in Michigan...

We are happy to announce a new house sponsorship at the National Home, the Nevada House! This 1,933 square foot home was built in 1937 by the VFW Department of Michigan and sponsored by the department until 2013. The Marine Riders, a veteran motorcycle group, sponsored the home until 2020, and now the VFW Department of Nevada is taking over the sponsorship of the home! We are so glad that the VFW Members from Nevada have decided to support this house! Sponsorship represents a solid commitment to the National Home, and it is critical to our ability to serve struggling military and veteran families....

This year for Social Worker Appreciation Month, we are spotlighting Case Manager Naomi. Last year you may have seen the article we did on Naomi for Military Brat day, where she shared how her childhood experiences in an Army family helped guide her decisions for her career. This time we’re going to dive a little deeper into Naomi’s career as a social worker here at the VFW National Home for Children. As she told us before, “I grew up valuing service to others. I knew I wanted to help children and families. I knew I had the “gift of gab,” learned quickly, and was flexible. I looked for a career...

April is Month of the Military Child, and to celebrate, we would like to share with you the story of one of our very own Military Brats on staff, case manager Naomi. “My father joined the Army straight out of High School,” Naomi told us. “My mother graduated the following year and flew to Germany to marry him. I was born nine months and five days from their wedding date.” In her early years, her family moved several times within the United States before moving together overseas to Bangkok, Thailand. “My father worked in the Embassy in Bangkok during the Vietnam War. I remember at age 5 or...

Here in Michigan, there is nothing like the onset of spring. The snow is gone, and the trees and plants are preparing for their coming out party, showing a bloom for the new season. Springtime is indeed the Earth rebranding itself. Spring, the time of year Major League baseball teams are filled with optimism that this will be the year they will make the World Series. The daylight grows longer with each passing day, and the warmth the sun brings leaves you exchanging your winter coat for a light sweater. Once you realize you don’t need to wear a coat, well, talk about a boost to your spirit!...

Valentine’s Day. The day that is designated to express your love and devotion to the one(s) you love. Whenever this day comes around every February 14th, it takes me back to grade school. It is the one day out of the year when a young person can express their interest in another with anticipation of reciprocation. The old “Be My Valentine” card was always ambiguous enough to hopefully gain a positive response. As the days and years add up, Valentine’s Day got more romantic in nature, and yes, more expensive as well. All within the blanket of Love. Now you may be wondering why I’m writing about...