OCTOBER 13 • 2022 | 23
SUPPORT FROM
ALL OVER
Numerous letters of
endorsements were received
by the CGM in the lead-up
to their voting for the award,
including from Kate Melcher,
executive director of Fisher
House of Michigan.
The Fisher House
Foundation builds comfort
homes where military and
veteran families can stay free
of charge while loved ones
are hospitalized in nearby VA
medical centers. One residence
is currently open in Ann Arbor
and news is forthcoming on a
Detroit location.
“
Art is the veteran
community’s greatest
ambassador and is a state
treasure,” said Melcher. “His
calendar would exhaust those
of us half his age.”
That calendar has included
his participation as a storyteller
at Fisher House’s annual
“Stories of Service” program.
In his support of Art’s
nomination, JWV Department
of Michigan Sr. Vice
Commander Bill Glogower
wrote that his rapid ascent
through the ranks of the
JWV “was all because of Art’s
mentoring and leadership.”
Past Commander of the
Department, Ed Hirsch, adds:
“It is a fitting honor for this
man who has selflessly served
all veterans, without regard to
race, creed, ethnic background
or military service.”
Most of my phone
conversations with Art
Fishman begin like this:
“Muskovitz,” he says with
a little bit of a rush in his
distinctive gravelly tone, “let
me call you later buddy,”
as he informs me he is out
the door to any number of
veteran, community or temple
functions or meetings.
ALWAYS BUSY
Art coordinates and appears
with the JWV Honor Guard at
Jewish comrades’ funerals. Due
to restricted attendance during
COVID, Art has, at times, been
the lone representative of the
JWV
, charged with handing
over the traditional folded
American flag to the spouse
or a family member of the
deceased.
Art also arranges the
Memorial Day ceremonies
at Machpelah and Hebrew
Memorial cemeteries, which
includes helping ensure Jewish
veterans’ graves are marked
with an American flag on the
holiday. He has even enlisted
the help of youngsters in
the Jewish community who
volunteer to clean veterans’
gravesites and headstones.
For years, Art has
spearheaded the JWV’s annual
Christmas Day bus trip to
the Battle Creek VA Medical
Center, where members
present gifts and play bingo
with veterans who can’t be
home for the holiday.
For the past 10 years,
Art has given of his time
generously on behalf of The
Michigan WWII Legacy
Memorial. The tribute honors
the Michigan servicemen
and women who fought on
the warfront and those who
supported the war effort on
the homefront, like Rosie
the Riveter. In 2017, Art was
awarded the organization’s
Victory Award at their annual
gala.
Just this past April 7, Art
played an integral role in the
planning and execution of the
memorial’s groundbreaking
ceremony in Memorial Park in
Royal Oak.
“He was part of the event
committee contributing in
several ways,” said memorial
president John Maten in his
letter of endorsement to the
Commanders Group, “that
included publicity, gathering
sponsors, securing the
donation of sound equipment,
as well as being our WWII
sounding board.” The event
received global press coverage.
On Flag Day, June 14, Art
made his yearly trek with his
fellow post members to the
Great Lakes National Cemetery
in Howell to participate in
their annual flag burning
ceremony. The event provides
an opportunity to respectfully
dispose of aging or tattered
flags as prescribed by the U.S.
Flag Code.
Without fail, over the 4th
“ART IS THE VETERAN
COMMUNITY’S GREATEST
AMBASSADOR AND IS A STATE
TREASURE.”
— KATE MELCHER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FISHER HOUSE
continued on page 24
Art Fishman flanked by Rabbi Michael Moskowitz of Temple
Shir Shalom and Phil Smith, Commanders Group.