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Each year the Battle Creek Enquirer news outlet sponsors Remember-A-Vet program to help serve Veterans receiving care through Battle Creek VA. The 2023 campaign, which ran from Thanksgiving
in 2023, through January 1st of 2024, was able to collect $15,521, bringing the total dollar amount of donations to $47,117.37 for the year. The value of these donations go to the Veterans
Battle Creek VA provides services to in the form of coupon books, which can be used at the medical center’s Canteen store or cafeteria. These coupon books are distributed to residential
patients during holidays throughout the year. “It’s important for them to be remembered, said Todd Greenman, Chief of Community and Volunteer Service at Battle Creek VA Medical Center. “Many
of them don’t have family members or close relatives nearby, so they really appreciate the gifts that are given to them.” Greenman also adds that it’s very fortunate to have a very
military-minded community in Battle Creek, and people who want to support Veterans. Remember-A-Vet is now in its 70th year, having begun in December 1953 when Art Middleton, a reporter and
editor at the local newspaper and a Veteran himself, proposed the fund-raising program after some readers asked how they could support Veterans that were hospitalized. Middleton was
commissioned as an Army infantry officer in 1942, was injured in combat in St. Lo, France, in 1944. He then served as public relations officer at Percy Jones General Hospital. After he was
honorably discharged in 1946, he became a reporter at the Battle Creek Enquirer newspaper. In 1971, Middleton died, and his wife continued supporting the program until her death. The
tradition continues with the family as daughter Pam Lajoie, and granddaughter Shannon Cochran both work at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center and are pleased that his legacy continues.
Donations can be sent directly to: Community and Volunteer Service, VA Medical Center (135), 5500 Armstrong Road, Battle Creek, MI 49037. Donations can also be provided electronically by
visiting the VA web site at: www.battlecreek.va.gov/giving and selecting the Donate button. Then, click the 1010 Fund for Remember-A-Vet. The name of a person who is being recognized or
remembered with the donation may be included with the gift. This year’s donors are: Albaugh, Jeffrey American Legion Auxiliary Unit 298 American Legion Post 169 American Legion Post 55
Anderson, Theodore Armock, Rebecca Barnes, Michael Bates, Thomas BCCHS Hall of Fame Bell, Kenneth Bellinger, Rebecca Bolton, Victoria Boughton, Mary Bretl, Daniel Broderick, William Cahill,
Jeffrey Chamberlain, Michael Coakes, Rose Coburn, Sandra Daughters of the American Revolution Davis, David Devyak, Dolores DeWitt, Jean Digennaro, Alfred East Eckford Community Church
Edwards, S. J. Flint, Dianna Geise, Joanne Gillet, Linda Green, Beth Gresly, Vaughn Grosskurth, Alfred Haas, Kathleen Hall, Sandra Hettich, Barbara Hickman, Gertrude Hiscock, Margaret
Hoffman, William Hosking, Marilyn Hover, Sandra Hutchison, Dorothy Jackson, Mary Ellen Jenkins, Michael Jewish War Veterans of the United States Department of Michigan Johnson, Charles
Kachman, Donald Keeon, Johnita Klingler, Regis Klopfenstein, Joan Koerner, Cynthia Kraft, Jean Leibert, Candice Linsley, Kathleen Lusk, Mary MacDonald, Michael Mathews, Michaele Mileski,
Sharon Mixon, Constance Moore, Julianne Palchak, Carolyn Postula, James Radewan, Jeff Rahn, Michael Ray, William Reincke, Margaret Saint Augustine Cathedral Salem Helping Hands Shearer,
Daniel Smith, Judith Snyder, Dorothy Solis-Kidder, Juanita Spriggel, Sharon Staines, Donna Steiner, Gary Stoddard, Linda Straub, Nancy Suicide Prevention and Awareness of Calhoun County
Taylor, Barbara Tilmann, Gerald Traux, Susan United Auto Workers Local 488 Retirees Virginia Hensley Living Trust Wallen, Renita Ward, Kathryn Weimer, Alma Yarger, Larry Zimmerman, Constance