Chelsea State Bank ad

Silver Maples publishes booklet honoring WWII, Korean War veterans

Noreene Heuser, WWII U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, at Veterans Day event at Silver Maples.

(Chelsea Update would like to thank Shawn Personke for the photo and information in this story.)

Silver Maples of Chelsea remembered Veteran’s Day with the publication of a new booklet honoring its many WWII and Korean War veterans on Monday, Nov. 12.

“Home of the Brave: War Stories from a Retirement Community” features the stories — both from the homefront and on-the-front — of more than 60 Silver Maples residents.

“It was a labor of love in many ways,” says Shawn Personke, director of activities and public relations for Silver Maples.

The book took more than three months, from initial thought to distribution.

“One of our residents, who is also a writer, thought the time had come – and actually was quickly passing – to record these stories,” Personke says, adding she put together a questionnaire, we distributed to every resident, and the stories arrived over the course of two months.

“Another resident typed up each of the stories, other residents helped proofread. It finally went to print in early October. It turned out quite beautifully,” Personke says.

The Veteran’s Day program, Remembering Our Vets and How Detroit Saved the World, also featured Randy Hotton, a pilot, veteran, and treasurer of the Yankee Air Museum.

“His presentation was all about how the factories of Detroit’s auto industry were able to retool and begin making the materials needed to win WWII,” Personke says. “It’s quite a remarkable story, and it’s truly part of our area’s history.”

Several Silver Maples residents had saved their uniforms or their spouse’s uniform, so organizers were able to mount a mini-exhibit featuring a Navy nurse jacket, and two Army Air Corp uniforms. Vogel’s and Foster’s provided Silver Maples with mannequins for the display.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

More News

Chelsea City Notice: Public Hearing for 511 Congdon Rezoning Request

March 25, 2024

April 4: Ballet Storytime at Chelsea District Library

March 25, 2024

Mary Lee Penney Named 2024 Woman of Chelsea State Bank Award Winner

March 24, 2024

Chelsea’s Jordan Braman Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi

March 24, 2024

April 18: Father Enzo Addari Retirement Celebration

March 24, 2024

March 31: Easter Events at Zion Lutheran Church

March 24, 2024

No City of Chelsea Meetings This Week

March 24, 2024

Chelsea Kiwanis Club Hears From the Chelsea Area Fire Authority

March 23, 2024

Great Showing for Chelsea Girls Track and Field at SEC Indoor Invitational

March 23, 2024

Chelsea Boys Track and Field Achieves Goals at SEC Indoor Invitational Meet

March 23, 2024

This Week’s Washtenaw County Road Commission Planned Road Projects

March 23, 2024

Washtenaw County Health Department Releases Annual Report

March 23, 2024

WCC Summer, Fall Registration Open

March 23, 2024

Chelsea School District March Students of the Month

March 22, 2024

Carley Grabarczyk Signs Letter of Intent to Purdue Northwest

March 22, 2024

Adult Learners Institute Announces April Schedule

March 22, 2024

Take a Journey Through Holy Week at Zion Lutheran Church

March 22, 2024

March 22: Final Lenten Fish Fry at St. Mary Church

March 22, 2024

Reminder: Spring Fling Craft Show from Fishville Farms at Chelsea Fairgrounds March 23

March 22, 2024

Recent Obituary: Thomas Joseph McGaw, Jr.

March 22, 2024

Jim Bristle and Loren Heller Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award Recipients

March 21, 2024