Veterans Day lunch for student veterans and active-duty service members

In celebration of Veterans Day, HFC Veteran Services will hold a luncheon for HFC’s student veterans and active-duty service members on Tuesday, November 11, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Room M-117 of the John McDonald Student and Culinary Arts Center (Building M on the main campus).

If you are a student veteran, reservist, or active-duty service member, you are invited! The lunch is free, and you do not have to register in advance.

“The lunch will be pizza, breadsticks, salad, cupcakes, soda, and bottled water – our usual low-key lunch for our student veterans and service members on the go,” said HFC Veterans Affairs Supervisor Dawn Hestand.

Student veterans and service members will also receive a goodie bag co-sponsored by HFC and the Texas Roadhouse in Taylor. The goodie bags will be available for pick-up from Monday, November 10, through Friday, November 14, from 8:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Veterans Services area on the first floor of the Welcome Center (Building WC on the main campus).

A brief history of Veterans Day

Veterans Day is an American federal holiday that honors the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

Veterans Day began on November 11, 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson declared it Armistice Day to honor the veterans of World War I. The armistice that ended the war had taken place one year earlier, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.

Congress passed a resolution in 1926 urging state governors to make the holiday an annual observance. Armistice Day became a national holiday in 1938. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name of the holiday to Veterans Day, which was expanded to honor all veterans.

HFC celebrates Veterans Day

For eight years, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency has named HFC a Gold-Level Veteran-Friendly school and employer. HFC is also the first community college in Michigan to be named a Veteran-Friendly Employer.

HFC honors our veterans throughout the year. On Veterans Day, we often hold public observances led by the Student Veterans Association (SVA). HFC has a Veterans Center in the Student Center, which provides a safe place that allows veterans to unwind between classes and connect with other veterans who understand the transition from military life to civilian life.

“We are proud to welcome all veterans and active-duty service members to our campus community,” said Hestand. “We take our role in providing excellent, flexible education very seriously, and we offer a vast array of services to accommodate you in any way we can.”

Additional resources for veterans

• The Veterans Crisis Line is staffed by caring, qualified crisis responders. Many of these responders are veterans themselves. If you are a veteran in crisis, call 800-273-8255 or call 988 and press 1, or text 838255.
• The Dearborn Vet Center: Call 313-277-1428.
• Dearborn Veterans Treatment Court: Call 313-943-2281 or email veteranscourt@ci.dearborn.mi.us.
• Wayne County Veterans Services: Call 313-224-5045.
• Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency: Call 800-642-4838 (800-MICH-VET).
• Homeless Veterans Assistance: Call 877-424-3838.

NOTE: HFC provides links to external resources solely as an informational service to our community. We do not endorse or partner with these external organizations. We cannot provide referrals or any services related to these organizations. We encourage you to ask questions and make sure the support services are right for you.

For questions or more information about any HFC Veterans Day activities, contact HFC Veterans Services at 313-845-9688 or veterans@hfcc.edu.