GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Thanks to the Armed Forces Thanksgiving, the West Michigan Veterans Coalition can continue to provide support and resources to those who have served our community.
The Armed Forces Thanksgiving organization presented a $45,000 check to the West Michigan Veterans Coalition during the Veterans Day event in Grand Rapids on Monday.
Armed Forces Thanksgiving organizers started with the idea that we don't do enough to honor veterans and children don't know enough about what they've been through. The organization today honors veterans and educates high schoolers about military service.
"We bring in some great speakers to show people about what people have done in the past and honor veterans that attend the event. And we also raise money for the West Michigan Veterans Coalition over $470,000 so far. But probably the best part is there are over 40 schools that have kids attend that learn about the military and what people have done for us," Bob Hughes, co-chair of the Armed Forces Thanksgiving event said.
Money raised from the event each May is then donated to the West Michigan Veterans Coalition.
West Michigan Veterans Coalition's goal is to link current and former armed forces and their families to resources that range from education, employment, healthcare and more.
During Monday's check presentation event, organizers also honored Lt. Col. Lisa Jaster who was in attendance.
In 2015 Lt. Col. Lisa Jaster became the third woman, and the first Army Reserve woman and mother, to graduate from the elite US Army Ranger School.
She shared her journey throughout her military service.
"I personally hadn't been interested in attending Army Ranger School, but my husband and my Sgt. Major, a guy by the name of Robbie Payne, they both thought it was perfect for me, and my husband made a really good point when we were discussing it at the dinner table, and that was, 'how would you feel if you did not try to go to Ranger School, and no women graduated,'" Lt. Col. Lisa Jaster said.
"Ranger School is for 22-year-old males at the time on average. So yeah, what interested me is my two individuals who were very important in my life, my Senior Enlisted Advisor and, of course, my husband, both thought that I needed to be there representing women who are a little longer in the tooth."
You can learn more about service options here.
