metro >>

In Honor Of Vets

JWV finds a new home for its Memorial Wall at HMC; Memorial Day revisited.

Alan Muskovitz
JN Columnist

our friends or their sacrifice."
Ceremonies included the
ith Veterans
Pledge of Allegiance, prayers,
Day next
poems and the playing of "Taps."
week, is it
The Ladies Auxiliary of the JWV
possible that our beloved
of Michigan was represented by
Jewish War Veterans are,
past president Shirlee Marshall.
in a word, on the march?
The JWV especially want to
Indeed they are, along
thank Rabbi Michael Moskowitz
of Temple Shir Shalom and
with what Michigan
Department Commander
Temple Israel's Rabbi Jennifer
Larry Berry called "our
Kaluzny for their inspirational
most valuable legacy —
participation.
our Memorial Wall." The
I was particularly moved by
memorial includes photo-
U.S. Air Force veteran Michael
graphs and names of brave
Lawrence Brody, 48, who
Michigan servicemen who
brought his 8-year-old son Jacob
made the ultimate sacri-
to Machpelah. It's rare indeed to
fice for their country.
see anyone younger than WWII
For years, the Jimmy
or Korean veterans at most JWV
Prentis Morris Jewish
events.
Community Center build-
"I felt [Jacob] was at the
ing in Oak Park provided a
right age to truly understand:'
meeting place for the vet-
Michael said. "He had a wonder-
erans and a home for the
ful time and is very proud of me
wall. Now the memorial is
... he thinks it's cool that his dad
was in the Air Force."
preparing to move into a
I applaud Michael for intro-
new home, and the desti-
nation could not be more
ducing
a new generation to the
JWV Memorial Day revisited: (left to right, of those visible) Al Lewis (American flag), Fred Feiss (Israeli flag), Joe
fitting — the Holocaust
importance
of respecting the
Goldring, Jerry Order, Commander Larry Berry, Jack Backalar, Sol Arsht, Michael Brody, Art Fishman, Jacob Brody and
Memorial Center (HMC)
sacrifice
our
men and women in
Mark Wise.
in Farmington Hills.
uniform make.
While a collective sigh
"I'm honored personally to
MEMORIAL DAY ... FINALLY
of relief was felt through-
Normandy a day after D-Day. An eyewit-
see these men and women who
out our community when, at the 11th
ness to the carnage, he barely spoke of
Memorial Day 2015 will be a day our
fought before me and will fight and protect
hour, an anonymous donor saved the JPM
the horror. Though on one rare occasion,
Jewish War Veterans won't forget. With
[us] after me he said. "It's my duty and
building, the fate of the JWV Memorial
he revealed to his son that as a surgeon
blowing snow and temperatures in the
honor to give them [my] full measure of
Wall was still in question. The uncertainty
his job was "putting boys back together."
30s, the organization was forced to cancel
respect and admiration."
and timing of the Oak Park renovation
Goldman honored his father's service by
its annual pilgrimages to Machpelah and
This civilian salutes you, sir.
created an urgency among the veterans,
joining and supporting a local JWV post.
Hebrew Memorial cemeteries to honor
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day:
prompting a proactive search for a new
On Sunday, Nov. 29, the new JWV
their fellow comrades. But Commander
If you see a vet, shake their hand, pick
Memorial Wall will be officially
Larry Berry proudly recalls, "In notifying
location.
up their tab at a restaurant or simply say
With Berry's blessing, Jewish
dedicated at the center. It will
our membership that the Memorial Day
"thank you." God bless them all, and God
War Veterans Art Fishman,
be open to the public with more
event would not be taking place; to a man
bless America. *
Marty Levine, Marc Manson
details forthcoming.
we were told the event should be post-
and Joe Goldring met with HMC
"I thought this should be the
poned not canceled."
Executive Director Stephen
home Goldman said. "It should
So, on a beautiful, sunny
Goldman to discuss the possibil-
be here, where the survivors well
Sunday, Oct. 25, a proud band
ity of relocating to the center.
remember those who liberated the of servicemen, mostly WWII
Goldman empathized with the
camps. It was a yes, immediately."
and Korean veterans, fulfilled
their
memorial mission. A 10
vets and without hesitation put
A
"yes"
that
brought
"relief
to
Stephen
the wheels in motion to make the Goldman
the JWV," says Commander Berry.
a.m. service at Machpelah,
dream a reality.
"We can't thank Stephen Goldman followed by a noon ceremony
"It's important to remember
and the HMC enough for their
at Hebrew Memorial, saw vets
them [the war dead] in the same way we
compassion and generosity. The inclu-
marching behind a color guard
remember our veterans and remember
sion of our Memorial Wall will provide an
to designated gravesites to pay
our survivors:' Goldman said. For him, it's
added dimension for those who tour this
homage to their fallen heroes.
both professional and personal.
great facility and hopefully remember the
As WWII Navy veteran Art
Fishman simply and eloquently
Goldman's father, the late Capt. Herbert
cost of redemption."
Air Force veteran Michael Brody with his son Jacob, 8
Goldman, landed on the shores of
stated, "We must never forget

W

20 November 5 . 2015