The Ontario Hockey League’s Plymouth Whalers are joining forces with VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System to celebrate the contribution of military veterans in a special way.
On Friday, January 17 and Saturday, January 18, the Whalers are holding Military Appreciation Weekend, designed to celebrate veterans who served their country. In addition, veterans have an opportunity to receive much-needed information about benefits offered by VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Game time on both nights is 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena, located at 14900 N. Beck Road in Plymouth Township.
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On the ice, the Whalers will wear specifically designed camouflaged jerseys against the Sudbury Wolves and Windsor Spitfires. The jerseys will be auctioned off, with proceeds of the jersey auction, Whalers ticket sales over the weekend and 50/50 fundraisers to benefit the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Off the ice, veterans can receive valuable information about services, assistance and benefits earned for any veteran and their family in need from the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
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The VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and the Whalers’ corporate partners have sponsored a dedicated amount of complimentary tickets for the game on Friday, Jan. 17 for a “Welcome Home Celebration” at 5 pm. Any veteran who attends the reception at 5 pm will receive information about veterans’ benefits will then be able to enjoy the game.
“We’re really excited about this weekend,” said Derek Atkinson, public affairs officer with the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System. “It’s an opportunity for us to say ‘thank you’ to those veterans who are returning from deployment. We also wanted to open the weekend up to veterans of all eras, to be able to come together and have a good time, to enjoy some camaraderie and some hockey.”
Service members, veterans and their families must reserve their complimentary tickets by calling Mignon Sizemore at (734) 845-3429. Tickets are still available, but just a limited amount remain.
“We’ll have information outlining VA Healthcare benefits,” said Atkinson, who is also a veteran. “The VA Healthcare system is affiliated with the University of Michigan, which is the best healthcare available. If a veteran doesn’t have healthcare, (then) we encourage them to enroll for VA healthcare benefits. We’d love the opportunity to be able to serve them.”
During Saturday’s game, former POW’s from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam conflict and from the Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts will be acknowledged.
For many returning veterans, the opportunity to assist other veterans becomes a passion. The bond between veterans often remains strong.
“The VA in Ann Arbor is very unique,” said Atkinson. “I served in Afghanistan in the Marine Corps and you see a lot that here. In Ann Arbor, roughly 30 percent of our employees are veterans. And those who aren’t veterans typically have some sort of a connection to a veteran – whether it is a father, grandfather, uncle, brother, cousin, sister, mother – whatever it may be. We see a committed Call to Duty here to serve those who have served us.”
Veterans looking for assistance are encouraged to call the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System at (734) 845-3787.
Contributing sponsors for the Plymouth Whalers Military Appreciation Weekend include: Foundation for American Veterans; Farmers Insurance; Xfinity; Bill & Rod’s Appliances; Diamond Home Care; Sara Lee Foodservice; Monroe Dodge Chrysler; DTE Energy; E.G Nicks; WYCD 99.5 FM Detroit’s Country.
Any veteran not attending the “Welcome Home Celebration” can purchase tickets for the Military Appreciation Weekend for $10 with ID, with their respective families will be admitted for $10 per ticket. Tickets can be purchase by calling Compuware Arena at (734) 453-8400 or by going online to www.plymouthwhalers.com/buytickets.
