GLPS and City of Wyoming to Honor Veterans

Our schools will set aside time on Thursday, November 11, to honor veterans of our Armed Forces as well as those still serving.  Lee Middle & High School will hold its program in the gym beginning at 9:05 a.m.  Veterans from the Godfrey-Lee community are invited to attend.  Short programs are also scheduled for 1:30 at Godfrey Elementary and 2:15 at the Early Childhood Center.

The Wyoming Veterans Memorial Garden Committee cordially invites the community to join them in honoring local veterans during its annual Veterans Day ceremony, Thursday.  
 
The ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Garden, 2300 DeHoop Ave., SW. The evening's program will feature a number of presentations and recognitions, as well as a message from Capt. Charles Heidelberg, a local veteran who is currently serving full time at the Grand Valley Armory. Music will be performed by the Lee High School band under the direction of Kevin Gabrielse.  
 
Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the first of three planned entryway arches being added to the Veterans Memorial Garden. The first arch was installed on Oct. 25, just in time for Veterans Day. The arch includes an American flag emblem and the word Honor.  
 
"Being able to honor our veterans and current service members is a privilege for our committee," said Michael Carpenter, chair of the Veterans Memorial Garden Committee. "Our community is blessed to have so many veterans, and those currently in active duty, as citizens. We want to remember them, especially on this day."

The Wyoming Veterans Memorial Garden Committee annually sponsors Veterans Day and Memorial Day services, provides cemetery flags for veterans and plans and implements improvements to the Veterans Memorial Garden. Improvements are funded, in part, by the sale of special memorial bricks, which feature the name, branch of service, conflict and years served by the honoree.  

The committee has already begun work to raise funds to erect two more arches over the next two years. Funds for the arches, which cost approximately $6,000 each, are being raised through donations.  
 
The garden is completely funded by donations and was developed to serve local veterans and give them a place to reflect and be honored. The committee is asking for help to reach the goal. Donations can be made payable to Veterans Memorial Garden, 1155 28th Street SW, Wyoming, MI 49509 or contact the City Manager's Office at 530-7272.

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