Reflecting on Veterans Day
“The Great War," as it was known, ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. It was supposed to be “The War to End All Wars,” and although the effort was valiant by the millions who fought this war, service men and women must still answer the call to defend this nation today. What was first Armistice Day and is now Veterans Day recognizes veterans from all eras to honor and observe the sacrifices they made in service to our country.
Abraham Lincoln said, “Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as best he can, the same cause.” The time around November 11th is often the busiest time of the year for many of you, because you choose to honor your fellow veterans and the citizens who have supported you. Please allow me to thank each of you for your service; we are indebted to the sacrifices you have made and continue to make.

Respectfully,

Adam Jando
Program Manager
Stories from the Field: Paul Jingozian Helps Veterans Get Service Dogs
Thanks to volunteer Paul Jingozian, veterans are being paired with trained service dogs that are helping them improve their quality of life.
 
 To read about how Paul is helping veterans get service dogs, click here . 
Month in Review | September 2018
Number of service members and veterans assisted: 50

Concerns identified:
Top interaction log submitters:
Steve Alguire - 15
Jon Luker - 10
Fred Turk - 6
Richie Roberts - 6
Ron Springer - 5


Number of drill/outreach events attended: 58

Most drill/outreach events attended and logged:
Bruce Binns - 6
Alfonse VanHese - 4
Cliff Tholen - 4
Thank you for taking the time to submit your logs and using the website to communicate with us. These submissions are key in helping us continue to serve Michigan’s veterans.
This Month's Training Anniversaries
The following volunteers are celebrating their training anniversaries with the program this month: 

Eight Years!
Gary Bourdeau
Paul Jingozian
Pete Raciti

Seven Years
Dick Overton

Four Years
Bob Baumstark
Mo De La O
Terry Madick

Three Years
Rob Herbstreith

Two Years
Edwin Johnson

One Year
Richard Dallas
Betty Hendricks
Dennis Schuldt

Thank you for your service!
Resource Highlight : ARNG Education Programs and Services
We were recently sent a helpful 2-page document from the Army National Guard Education Services office that outlines features of and eligibility for programs such as Federal Tuition Assistance, Credentialing Assistance Program, GI Bill programs, and more. This might come in handy for the times you are assisting ARNG soldiers. Download it here .
Schedule a Re-Training
Has it been a while since you went through our New Volunteer Training? Do you think you might benefit from going through training again? If so, contact us about attending an upcoming training. We continually update our training content and think that any and all volunteers who are interested in refreshing their skills will benefit from going through the new and updated training. We'll provide a free lunch. Contact us to schedule a re-training.
Need Any New Program Supplies? Let Us Know!
Are you running low on program materials? Are you unsure about whether the materials you have are the most current versions? If so, please contact Jamie Majer at (734) 998-5825 or jmajer@umich.edu and the supplies you need will be ordered and sent to you as soon as possible.
Interested in Representing Buddy-to-Buddy at an Event?
Would you like to represent Buddy-to-Buddy at a veteran-focused event in your community? Do you know of an event that you think someone from Buddy-to-Buddy should attend? If so, contact Amy Kienast at amkienas@umich.edu or (734) 998-5829.
Buddy-to-Buddy Pics
Volunteers Fred Turk, Turnera Croom, and Delia Baker at the Kalamazoo Veteran Stand Down.
Turnera Croom and Bruce Binns at the Kalamazoo Veteran Stand Down.
Alfonse VanHese enjoying beautiful weather in L'Anse during the U.P. VCAT Fall Conference.
Buddy-to-Buddy is part of Military Support Programs and Networks (M-SPAN), a portfolio of military and veteran mental health programs within the University of Michigan Depression Center .
Buddy-to-Buddy Volunteer Veteran Program
2025 Traverwood Dr., Suite C | Ann Arbor | MI | 48105