thedrifter
01-11-09, 07:57 AM
January 11, 2009
Vets made, preserved history in 2008
For many, their service ended decades ago, but Southfield's military veterans - all of them - were the area's newsmakers of the year in 2008.
With conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan still raging, area veterans not only took steps to remember those currently serving but also to preserve the history of previous wars for future generations.
Veterans Harmon Tron, Bernard Feldman, Marvin Katz, Anderson Davis, Harold Compton, Ethel Grossman, William Burnett, Bernard Nolish, Alexander Jefferson, Felix Seldon, Alvin Lewis, Gerald Order and Robert Nance were among those whose reminiscences were videotaped as part of a massive Library of Congress project.
Reminiscences of their experiences in World War II, Korea and Vietnam will be preserved at the Southfield Public Library.
Led by Timothy Wirkus, veterans also added the names of seven servicemen, all killed in action during the Vietnam War, to the city's Veteran's Memorial Plaque. The new plaque was unveiled during Veterans Day ceremonies in November.
But perhaps the most poignant tribute to veterans and their sacrifices came during the unveiling of Lathrup Village's new veteran's memorial, also on Veterans Day.
There, city officials and family members honored the memories of Nicholas Manoukian, a Lathrup resident killed while serving with the U.S. Marines in Iraq in November 2006 and Matthew Hilton, a Lathrup police officer and National Guardsman, who was killed while on duty in Afghanistan in June 2007.
AGE OF OBAMA
Certainly, the election of Barack Obama had local implications especially for Charlene Yarborough. The Lathrup Village resident Monday cast one of Michigan's 17 Electoral College votes for Obama, and one of 365 the Illinois senator received nationwide, during voting session in state capitols across the U.S.
The Southfield High School Concert Choir, meanwhile will be traveling to Washington D.C. later this month to participate in ceremonies surrounding the Obama inaugural.
"We're really, really excited to be going," said Heirreal Felster, a junior and three-year choir member. "We're going to be part of history."
DOING GOOD
Despite the sour economy, or perhaps because of it, many locals gave of themselves in unique ways during the past year.
Anita Hobson, a teacher at the Southfield Regional Academic Center, worked hard through the year to bring food, clothing and blankets to homeless people taking shelter in and around Detroit's Cass Corridor.
"It was just something I felt compelled to do," said Hobson, who received help from her SRAC students and fellow staff members.
Joshua Griffin, a Southfield Christian student, helped unveil a "survivor's wall" at Beaumont Hospital's Rose Cancer Center. The wall, which features plaques sponsored by other survivors and their families, is not only designed to raise scholarship for young cancer patients but also inspire them in their battles.
Griffin, who was diagnosed at age 5 with a rate form of cancer, is now cancer-free and plays on his high school basketball team, stars in the classroom, coaches young students in two sports and has achieved Eagle Scout status within his Boy Scout Troop.
"He has a lot of confidence in himself, but he's not one to boast," said Ken Bourgon, who leads the nearly 120-member Troop 782 based at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Livonia. "He'd really rather focus on others."
FUN AND GAMES
Ben Davis, Michigan's first African American golf professional, was honored on his 96th birthday with a party a MediLodge of Southfield, where he and his wife reside.
"They can talk all they want about Sam Snead (the legendary pro known for having the best-ever gold swing). Ben's swing was just as silky smooth," sand longtime friend Richard Love, who learned the game from Davis more than 60 years ago at the Detroit-owned Rackham golf course.
Meanwhile, the reunion of the year occurred Nov. 29 at Leonhard Elementary School, were hundreds of alumni of the after school floor hockey program took to the floor one more time to honor longtime phys ed teacher Ed Krass.
"It was really the best part of our childhood," former player Marc Berke recalled.
PASSINGS
James Clarkson: Clarkson, Southfield's second mayor and later a 46th District Court judge, died Feb. 1.
"He was feisty, like a bantam rooster," recalled Councilman Donald Fracassi, who lost the 1965 mayoral election to Clarkson "by seven votes as I remember."
Johanna Cothery: Cothery, former president of Southfield-based Reid Manufacturing and the Southfield Areas chamber's first female president, died April 4 at 85.
"I'm not a gung ho women's libber but the days of 'only a housewife' are over," she said in a 1985 Eccentric interview.
Sherry Lee: Lee, 57, Southfield's city assessor, died unexpectedly, May 30.
"She was a wonderful person and an inspiration to all of us," said Birmingham City Assessor Janet Laing, a former associate.
Ellie
Vets made, preserved history in 2008
For many, their service ended decades ago, but Southfield's military veterans - all of them - were the area's newsmakers of the year in 2008.
With conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan still raging, area veterans not only took steps to remember those currently serving but also to preserve the history of previous wars for future generations.
Veterans Harmon Tron, Bernard Feldman, Marvin Katz, Anderson Davis, Harold Compton, Ethel Grossman, William Burnett, Bernard Nolish, Alexander Jefferson, Felix Seldon, Alvin Lewis, Gerald Order and Robert Nance were among those whose reminiscences were videotaped as part of a massive Library of Congress project.
Reminiscences of their experiences in World War II, Korea and Vietnam will be preserved at the Southfield Public Library.
Led by Timothy Wirkus, veterans also added the names of seven servicemen, all killed in action during the Vietnam War, to the city's Veteran's Memorial Plaque. The new plaque was unveiled during Veterans Day ceremonies in November.
But perhaps the most poignant tribute to veterans and their sacrifices came during the unveiling of Lathrup Village's new veteran's memorial, also on Veterans Day.
There, city officials and family members honored the memories of Nicholas Manoukian, a Lathrup resident killed while serving with the U.S. Marines in Iraq in November 2006 and Matthew Hilton, a Lathrup police officer and National Guardsman, who was killed while on duty in Afghanistan in June 2007.
AGE OF OBAMA
Certainly, the election of Barack Obama had local implications especially for Charlene Yarborough. The Lathrup Village resident Monday cast one of Michigan's 17 Electoral College votes for Obama, and one of 365 the Illinois senator received nationwide, during voting session in state capitols across the U.S.
The Southfield High School Concert Choir, meanwhile will be traveling to Washington D.C. later this month to participate in ceremonies surrounding the Obama inaugural.
"We're really, really excited to be going," said Heirreal Felster, a junior and three-year choir member. "We're going to be part of history."
DOING GOOD
Despite the sour economy, or perhaps because of it, many locals gave of themselves in unique ways during the past year.
Anita Hobson, a teacher at the Southfield Regional Academic Center, worked hard through the year to bring food, clothing and blankets to homeless people taking shelter in and around Detroit's Cass Corridor.
"It was just something I felt compelled to do," said Hobson, who received help from her SRAC students and fellow staff members.
Joshua Griffin, a Southfield Christian student, helped unveil a "survivor's wall" at Beaumont Hospital's Rose Cancer Center. The wall, which features plaques sponsored by other survivors and their families, is not only designed to raise scholarship for young cancer patients but also inspire them in their battles.
Griffin, who was diagnosed at age 5 with a rate form of cancer, is now cancer-free and plays on his high school basketball team, stars in the classroom, coaches young students in two sports and has achieved Eagle Scout status within his Boy Scout Troop.
"He has a lot of confidence in himself, but he's not one to boast," said Ken Bourgon, who leads the nearly 120-member Troop 782 based at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Livonia. "He'd really rather focus on others."
FUN AND GAMES
Ben Davis, Michigan's first African American golf professional, was honored on his 96th birthday with a party a MediLodge of Southfield, where he and his wife reside.
"They can talk all they want about Sam Snead (the legendary pro known for having the best-ever gold swing). Ben's swing was just as silky smooth," sand longtime friend Richard Love, who learned the game from Davis more than 60 years ago at the Detroit-owned Rackham golf course.
Meanwhile, the reunion of the year occurred Nov. 29 at Leonhard Elementary School, were hundreds of alumni of the after school floor hockey program took to the floor one more time to honor longtime phys ed teacher Ed Krass.
"It was really the best part of our childhood," former player Marc Berke recalled.
PASSINGS
James Clarkson: Clarkson, Southfield's second mayor and later a 46th District Court judge, died Feb. 1.
"He was feisty, like a bantam rooster," recalled Councilman Donald Fracassi, who lost the 1965 mayoral election to Clarkson "by seven votes as I remember."
Johanna Cothery: Cothery, former president of Southfield-based Reid Manufacturing and the Southfield Areas chamber's first female president, died April 4 at 85.
"I'm not a gung ho women's libber but the days of 'only a housewife' are over," she said in a 1985 Eccentric interview.
Sherry Lee: Lee, 57, Southfield's city assessor, died unexpectedly, May 30.
"She was a wonderful person and an inspiration to all of us," said Birmingham City Assessor Janet Laing, a former associate.
Ellie