The Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center — a.k.a. the Michigan Freedom Center — has two lounges for traveling military personnel and veterans at Detroit Metro Airport.
One is at Gate A43 in the McNamara Terminal and the other is at Gate D17 in the North Terminal. Guests have expressed their appreciation for the center’s massage chairs, snacks and light breakfasts, camaraderie with other veterans, books, TV, a place to plug in electronic devices, and other amenities.
Travelers get to rest there before or after deployments. The center’s volunteers — called the Care Team – have also supported families of fallen heroes as they make their final journey home, and showed appreciation for their sacrifices.
Anyone interested in helping can volunteer to greet guests; stock beverages and snacks; keep the lounge clean and neat; receive, log or pick up in-kind donations; accept deliveries; assist guests with travel guidance; and open and close the centers. Some volunteers work regular shifts, and some fill in when needed. Volunteers are often veterans, or people who have family members who are in the Armed Forces.
Everything that is donated to the centers is given free to military travelers. The center has been supported by the Selfridge Base Community Council, and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 154 in Clinton Township and other organizations and individuals.
Lucky golfers who signed up early for the June 7 Tee It Up for Freedom golf outing get to play while the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds practice for the public air show at Selfridge Air National Guard Base that takes place the following two days. Last summer’s golf outing in Ann Arbor raised more than $23,000. The Knights of Columbus Fr. Vincent Capodanno Assembly 3392 was a sponsor of that outing.
Even though all the golfer registrations are filled, the outing is still welcoming sponsors from $125 to $2,100. Tom Lang is the Community Outreach Director. He can be reached at tom@mifreedomcenter.org.
Besides golf outing sponsorships, people can help the center with Kroger Community Awards and Amazon Smile. Donations to the Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center can be mailed c/o: DC3S Collaboration Center, 7205 Sterling Ponds Court, Sterling Heights MI 48312. Freedom center organizers use the Sterling Heights office for meetings.
Speakers are available to go out to groups and give presentations on the center.
“We are a respite service for active duty people or veterans, and even our Allied forces,” Lang said. “At the end of 2023 we have had over 900,000 guests in our first 12 years. The fact that we serve veterans makes us unique from the USO that traditionally only allows active duty personnel. We opened on Veterans Day 2011. That was 11-11-11 at 11 a.m. From that beginning, we rose to 912,467 guests. We anticipate crossing the one million mark in 2025 which would just be amazing.”
Lang said there is a continuous loop announcement in the airport about every 15 minutes alerting people about the center.
“There are a lot of veterans who work for the airlines,” Lang said. “They talk to travelers and suggest they check out the Freedom Center. If they have already visited us, we send them a newsletter to remind them we are here for them. Mostly, though, people find out about us through word of mouth.”
The center removed bunk beds they had because of COVID-19.
“Most of our chairs recline, so people do nap quite easily,” Lang said. “A lot of them sit at the tables and use the free wi-fi for their computers. We can comfortably fit about 15 people at a time.”
Future plans include a color guard or honor guard from an Oakland County American Legion post for a Memorial Day ceremony in the McNamara Terminal.
“In November, when we turn 13, we hope to be close to the one million mark with our guests, showing we’ve been around a while and are actually serving people,” he said. “People donated about 13,000 volunteer hours in 2023 to the center. We really could not operate without the volunteers who are mostly retired military veterans or parents of those currently serving who just want to give back in whatever way they can.”
He said an organization that analyzes data on volunteers said their donated service equaled a value of $395,000 in 2023.
“That’s money we don’t have to raise,” Lang said. He said volunteers and monetary donations are the best way to help the program.
Veteran caregivers meet on April 30
The Michigan Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America has a free caregiver lunch and information session. It is in partnership with the Senior Alliance at noon, April 30 at 46701 Commerce Center Drive, Plymouth.
“Caregivers in attendance will be provided with an opportunity to learn more about VA benefits and Medicare-Medicaid support that impact their clients,” MPVA executive director Jaclyn Kochis, of St. Clair Shores, said. “There will also be time for caregivers to network. We currently have 10 more spots available before we have reached capacity.” Kochis can be reached at 248-476-9000 Ext. 122 or jkochis@michiganpva.org. See michiganpva.org.
VFWS host veterans benefits events
Two neighborhood Veterans of Foreign Wars posts host veterans outreach events next month. The county Veterans Services office is one of the sponsors so that veterans can learn about benefits and programs for which they may be eligible. One session is 4-8 p.m. Thursday, May 2 at VFW Striber-McVicar Post 2052 at 70455 McVicar Road, Bruce Township. The other is 4-8 p.m. Monday, May 13 at VFW James Coleman Post 6082 at 34339 32 Mile Road, Richmond. For more information, call 586-469-5125.
American Legion Blessing of the Bikes is April 28
The fourth annual Blessing of the Bikes is 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 28 at American Legion Post 4, 401 N. Groesbeck Hwy., Mount Clemens. The American Legion Riders sponsor the event that is open to the public. Bikes are blessed by a member of the clergy at 1 p.m. There are food stations, drawings, vendors and entertainment. Call 586-201-5597 or 586-567-8964 for more information.
Send news of service clubs and veterans organizations to Linda May at lindamay@ameritech.net or call landline 586-791-8116.
