18 | SEPTEMBER 7 • 2023 

JWV SUPPORT 
The Jewish War Veterans 
Department of Michigan have 
been longtime supporters of 
The Michigan WWII Legacy 
Memorial since Art Fishman 
introduced the project to them 
over a decade ago. They’ve 
been regular attendees at the 
memorial’s annual fundraising 
galas where Fishman and fel-
low JWV Guy Stern have both 
been honored with the organi-
zation’s Victory Award. 
The JWV was also out in full 
force for the Phase I ground-
breaking ceremony on April 
7, 2022, which I chronicled 
in a cover story for the JN (“
A 
March in the Park,
” April 28, 
2022). Fishman was pictured 
on the cover with legend-
ary Detroiter and Tuskegee 
Airman Lt. Col. Alexander 
Jefferson. He was a prisoner of 
war who often shared chilling 
recollections of witnessing the 
aftermath of the Dachau con-
centration camp days after its 
liberation.
Jefferson passed away in June 
2022, at age 100. He played an 
integral role in the design of 

the Tuskegee Airman statue 
that will grace the grounds 
of the memorial. “
Alexander 
worked tirelessly with sculp-
tor Larry Halbert,
” said board 
member Debi Hollis. “His 
efforts helped depict with 100% 
accuracy our Tuskegee Airman 
statue.
” 
“
Alexander and I were dear 
friends,
” Fishman said. “He 
was foremost on my mind as 
I stood at the dedication. We 
attended memorial events 
together, and he was as invested 
as I was in the success of this 
project. I wish I could have 
stood by his side at this dedi-
cation, but I’m grateful he had 

the opportunity to witness the 
groundbreaking. He was a true 
American hero and my hero.
”
The JWV has been regular 
financial contributors to the 
memorial project and purchas-
ers of bricks for the Walk of 
Honor. Their latest donation 
came on the morning of the 
dedication when represen-
tatives of the JWV gathered 
at the site for a special check 
presentation to the memorial 
board.
 
FINISHING THE JOB
The support by original major 
donors and community, plus 
the dedication of Phase I, can-

not be understated. It is finally 
a showpiece the memorial can 
move forward with as they 
secure funding for its remain-
ing phases.
“But we need your help,
” 
Maten said in his closing 
remarks about moving the 
project closer to completion. 
That included his appeal to 
Michigan companies to honor 
their own WWII legacy and 
historic participation in the 
war effort — among them 
GM, Ford, Jeep, Kellogg’s and 
Steelcase. 
Remaining elements of the 
memorial include a dramatic 
50-foot long by 10-foot tall 
granite wall that will have 
approximately 1,300 gold stars 
on one side that will pay tribute 
to the 15,458 Michigan lives 
lost during WWII. The other 
side will feature a map of the 
world, highlighting the broad 
reach of Michigan’s WWII con-
tributions. 
In addition to the aforemen-
tioned statue scenes, several 
more sculptures remain that 
will tell the story of the war 
from land, sea and air per-
spectives. Among them will 
be a sailor on watch looking 

continued from page 17

OUR COMMUNITY

A closeup view of the Walk of Honor, 
featuring the Jewish War Veterans

JIM HOUSE

DEBI HOLLIS

JWV members present a check to The Michigan WWII Legacy Memorial. 
Memorial board members include Debi Hollis and Judy Maten, JWV’s 
Mark Weiss and Mark Manson, memorial president John Maten, JWV’s 
Art Fishman and memorial board member Kim Jones.

