Adrian Mich-Event honors veterans, premieres movie

ADRIAN TWP., Mich. –

The Independence Day holiday got off to a celebratory start with Grand Court Adrian paying tribute to America’s veterans — specifically the 20 who live at the facility in Adrian Township.

“We do a lot with our veterans here and wanted to do something special for the Fourth of July,” said Sherri Watkins, director of sales and marketing at Grand Court.

     A display of World War II-era equipment and paraphernalia was set up in the entry at Grand Court on Thursday. Vendors from Innovative Senior Care, Lifepack, The Answer and other personal services for seniors were available Thursday afternoon for veterans and their spouses, as well as residents and visitors. Veterans representatives and others took part in the event, which featured health screenings and lots of food.

The “Salute to Our Nation’s Veterans” featured the premiere of a movie. Rick Neeley and Chris Wulf from the University of Toledo Veterans History Project are part of “History Documented.”

Neeley and Wulf interviewed many of the veterans and put together a video tribute telling the stories of the men’s service in World War II. Information is available at the Web site, www.HistoryDocumented.com.

The video will be in the National Archives and will be in the archives at the University of Toledo, Neeley said.

One of those honored was Tom Thompson. Thompson flew missions for the Office of Strategic Services — the OSS, forerunner of the Central Intelligence Agency. His job was to help scatter propaganda leaflets on enemy troops and in occupied France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany.

“I called myself a newspaper boy because we delivered these papers,” Thompson said. “We flew at night and dropped the  leaflets all over. We called ourselves the Carpetbaggers. A couple of years ago, I met a man who served in the German Army, and he told me I should have been arrested for littering.”

Bob Vandenberg of Adrian, a World War II veteran, was visiting friends at Grand Court. He said he was pleased with the event.

“I made the most of my time in the army,” he said. “I got to see a lot of the world I wouldn’t have otherwise.”

Nine of the residents at Grand Court took part in the May 28 memorial event at Yankee Air Museum near Detroit and signed the poster — Detroit: Our Greatest Generation — honoring veterans. A copy of the poster is also on display in the entrance.

“We do a lot for the veterans who are here. I felt that when I walked in this morning,” said Travis Havens, who was in his first day as executive director.

The Deerfield native transferred to Grand Court, a move he called “coming home.” He began his career three years ago at Bixby Medical Center and also worked at the Charlotte Stephenson Home