2015 Veteran Tribute

There was a lot of talk about heroes at the fourth Veteran Tribute held by Volunteers of America Michigan on Oct. 1, 2015. Jim Dunn Jr. said he does not consider himself among them.

 “I’m not a hero. I’m here representing a lot of heroes, and I want you to know that,” Dunn said, after receiving the John E. Demmer Award, an annual honor given to a veteran who demonstrates continued service as a civilian.

Dunn, a highly decorated veteran of the Vietnam War who today is Deputy Director of the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, told the more than 200 in attendance about heroic acts he saw others perform during his service.

“I saw more examples of heroism than you could possibly imagine,” he said.

Volunteers of America Michigan started the Veteran Tribute in 2012 to shine a light on the efforts of deserving recipients, while raising funds to support the VOA’s work with homeless veterans.  The event also is a fundraiser for Volunteers of America Michigan, the state’s largest provider of veteran services.

Key sponsors of the event include Nancy Passanante, Dean Transportation, Demmer Corporation, Foster Swift, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, Meijer, Joy Ann Sanchez, Mary Ellen Sheets and Tom Amiss, and Brig and Fran Sorber.