The Positive Voices

Michael Burri, now age 59, served in the United States Army Military Police at Fort Hood from 1969-71. Mike is Commander of the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard; Junior Vice Commander Kent County United Veterans Council; and Secretary for Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc., as well as being a founding member of this organization. Mike is a recipient of the American Red Cross Community Hero’s Award. He organized a drive to collect shoes for children of Iraqi orphanages. This project overflowed with love as generous people gave and gave. Mike was able to send to those Iraqi children 6,000 pairs of shoes and 15,000 blankets and baby outfits. Mike coordinated the 4,000 Veterans who lined the Bridge to pay tribute to President Gerald R. Ford as the President’s funeral cortege passed. He raised $42,000 for the Operation Iraqi Freedom Monument in Veterans Park at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Mike also raised $30,000 and volunteered all construction labor of the All-American Grill Project located at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc. has just been awarded a $50,000 grant from the M.E. Davenport Foundation due to Mike’s submitting the request for funding and following through. $35,000 of this generous gift will be used at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans to upgrade living space for our veterans, and $15,000 will be given to D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette for the same purpose. Thank you, Mike! We salute you! Help Us Help Our Vets! These are just a few possibilities which could be implemented by the Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc. Foundation: New attached greenhouse which would improve member accessibility during the winter months Visitor’s Center at cemetery with grave site locator system to enable families to locate lost loved ones Expand All Purpose Room (APR) Grand Rapids Home for Veterans 3000 Monroe NE Grand Rapids, MI 49505 Phone : 616.364.5300