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.

