The Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency is collecting stories and photos from Michigan veterans who have been historically underserved and underrepresented. These stories will be used to help encourage others to get the help they need. Getting veterans linked to the right benefits and resources can help them thrive and prevent the issues that can lead to veteran suicide and suicidal ideation. It also allows a wide variety of veterans to tell their own stories.
This includes multicultural veterans from all ethnicities and religions, LGBTQ+ veterans, tribal veterans, houseless or previously houseless veterans, previously incarcerated veterans, veterans struggling with addiction or alcoholism, peacetime veterans, and all other veteran populations, as well as dependents of deceased veterans. Regardless of sexual orientation, ethnicity, era of service, socioeconomic status or other factors, a veteran is a veteran — and their stories deserve to be heard.
If you served in the U.S. armed forces, including the National Guard and reserves, you are a veteran, and the MVAA wants to help you tell your story to inspire other veterans and get all former service members connected to the benefits they earned for their service. If you’d like to submit your story, please fill out a nomination form and send it to MVAA Communications Manager Andy Henion at heniona@michigan.gov.