Honoring the Fallen This Memorial Day

By Tom Lang

This Memorial Day we want to keep in mind those who never made it home from serving our country over the course of our nation’s history. Memorial Day Weekend is an appropriate time to reflect on, and sincerely remember, each one with honor.

With the ongoing support of Delta Air Lines, the volunteers and part-time staff of Michigan Armed Forces Hospitality Center – known at Detroit Metro Airport as the Michigan Freedom Center – do their best on a daily basis to honor all Veterans still with us. The organization provides comfortable travel services in its military lounge to ease travel for active-duty military and Veterans alike.

The Center also has a special Care Team to comfort the families of lost loved ones.

“One very special service provided by the MI Freedom Centers is the Care Team,” said volunteer Kathy Galuszka. “They care for families and friends of fallen heroes arriving at Detroit Metro Airport. The Fallen Soldier’s family and friends are supported with a military honor guard. The Care Team stands by to offer tissues, snacks, beverages – but mostly solemn respect for their sacrifice on behalf of our freedom.”

When the remains of a military service person returns to Detroit through the McNamara terminal, the Delta Honor Guard, an assembly of employees in which many are Veterans themselves, carefully and respectfully handle the casket from the airplane and into a hearse.

This Memorial Day Weekend, Delta and the MI Freedom Center will once again put out a display in the terminal arranged with seven military flags and a flower wreath in honor of the fallen. Each year many airline passengers stop at the temporary memorial to pay their respects.

When military guests visit the MI Freedom Center at either North Terminal or the McNamara Terminal (which opened on Veterans Day in November of 2011), they get the chance to unwind in a comfortable environment in the airport. It’s a small way supporters can show respect and say thank you to all Veterans. Through the financial support of Delta Air Lines and the general public, it allows Freedom Center volunteers to be the face and hands at giving service to the guests.

“The Freedom Center gives us that moment of decompression…because you can come home a wreck,” said Joe Munoz, a combat Veteran in Michigan. “You know you’re in a safe place, a quiet place, a respectful place. The volunteers are amazing… they have a sense like they know (what to do) to make our couple of hours at the Freedom Center more relaxing and a benefit to us. That’s what I love about the Freedom Center. We’re so grateful we have the opportunity to have it at the airport.”

More background information on the Michigan Freedom Center can be found at: www.mifreedomcenter.org.

If your church, community group or Veterans organization would like us to make a presentation, write to: [email protected].

Donations to keep it open can be made online, or mailed to: Michigan Freedom Center, c/o DC3S Defense Corridor, 7205 Sterling Ponds Ct., Sterling Hgts., MI 48312.