The War Memorial Celebrates and Honors Community Heroes With Their Annual Veterans Day Breakfast
Hundreds of veterans and active duty service members will gather at The War Memorial for the annual Veterans Day Breakfast and celebration of military service Monday, November 11. Doors to the event open at 7am, with the program beginning at 7:45am and breakfast served at 8am. The War Memorial hosts this event year-over-year to honor and recognize the numerous servicewomen and men in the community. This year’s event is part of The Patriot Leadership Series at The War Memorial, presented through the generosity of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Funds of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.
The keynote speaker for the breakfast will be United States Senator Gary Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Additional remarks will be made from Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, as well as War Memorial board director Mary Lamparter, who will speak on behalf of Guardian Angels Medical Service Dogs, Inc., a previous recipient of The War Memorial’s Patriot Initiative grant. The program includes the presentation of thank-you cards handmade by local Grosse Pointe school students, an uplifting service song medley from Motor City Brass Bank and a breakfast prepared by The War Memorial’s culinary team. The Veterans Day Breakfast offers a space for local service members to experience camaraderie through shared stories and hospitality.
“Each year, The War Memorial seeks to build community through honoring and recognizing our local veterans with this very special breakfast,” said Charles Burke, War Memorial President and CEO. “Our very foundation is built on the shoulders of these brave men and women. Hosting this breakfast pales in comparison to the sacrifices that these individuals have made, but every veteran who walks through our doors or visits our campus reaffirms our commitment to patriotism and giving back to our military community.”
As a special tribute, a table is reserved specifically for World War II veterans. Revered in the same way as the bronze plaques near The War Memorial grand staircase, these men and women are a testament to the selfless act of serving and protecting our nation.
The event is free for veterans to attend; veterans may bring one guest each at a cost of $10. The event sells out nearly every year. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.warmemorial.org/veterans or call 313.881.7511.
The War Memorial is located at 32 Lake Shore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. The institution is a 501(c)(3) organization and receives no local, state, or federal funding.
About Senator Gary Peters
Elected in 2014, U.S. Senator Gary Peters is honored to represent the State of Michigan in the U.S. Senate. Throughout his career in public service, Peters has been a strong, independent voice for Michigan who is committed to working with members of both parties to find commonsense, bipartisan solutions the issues most important to our state and country. He currently serves as Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. He also serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee – where he is Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities – and the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
The son of a World War II Army veteran, Senator Peters volunteered in 1993 for the U.S. Navy Reserve at age 34 and served with the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26 at Selfridge Air National Guard Base until 2000. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and was a qualified Seabee combat warfare specialist. After the September 11th terrorist attacks on our country, he volunteered again for reserve status until leaving the service in 2008, completing almost 15 years of service. He supported Operation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf and is a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff.
One of Senator Peters’ top priorities is supporting our veterans and military families, and he was previously named Legislator of the Year by the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Senator Peters has introduced bipartisan legislation to honor our military and veterans, including leading an effort to ensure members of the Military Reserves and National Guard receive a DD-214 following retirement or completion of service. He has also introduced the TEAM Veteran Caregivers Act: bipartisan legislation to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs’ caregiver program. He is a cosponsor of the TRICARE Reserve Improvement Act, which allows Federal Technicians, and all members of the Reserve Component who are federal employees, to be eligible to purchase TRICARE Reserve Select.
His Fairness for Veterans legislation was signed into law to support veterans coping with the invisible wounds of war caused by post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury. The legislation helps veterans petitioning to upgrade their discharge status so they can get the treatment they need for injuries they suffered in service to our country.
Senator Peters has lived his entire life in Michigan, and he and his wife, Colleen have three children.
About The War Memorial
The War Memorial, located on the shores of Lake Saint Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, is a legacy-filled institution with a reenergized determination to emerge as a regional driver of arts, learning, patriotism, hospitality and connectivity. Situated on the grounds of the historic Alger Estate, The War Memorial serves an estimated 250,000 individuals with over 3,000 functions annually, including programs to honor veterans, engagement experiences for adults and children, community events and celebrations, and premier hospitality services. With new programming and innovative leadership, The War Memorial is a unique, dynamic and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan with a mission to be a patriotic, cultural, and community leader.
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Media Contacts
Jessi Kaminski
Manager of Communications and Programming
313.332.4053
jkaminski@warmemorial.org
Photography Assets
Images courtesy of Inner Circle Photography