News & Events

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…

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 …

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 wit…

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 Neva…

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 …

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 seve…

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…

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 …

My dear friend, I owe you the sincerest of apologies. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the past holiday season, the excitement of 2020 ending and the birth of the year 2021, I forgot, just as unbelievable as it seems, flat forgot, your Birthday. Yes, on January 7th you turned 96 years old. How could anyone forget that? Well, I did and I am sorry. As you know, you and I have known each other a long time. It was a s…

As I sit here attempting to share with you my reflections of the year 2020, my first instinct was to type the word “YUCK”. I suspect that my instinctive reaction to the year 2020 is consistent with most of yours as well. It’s clearly been a turbulent, chaotic and dark year for us all. One to forget, but likely always memorable. Now that all my negative thoughts have drained through my fingertips and on to this pa…