By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – Berrien County Commissioners recognized and celebrated the valor of the county’s Vietnam War veterans at their meeting last week in honor of Vietnam War Veterans Day. March 29 has been set aside to honor Vietnam War veterans since 2017 when it was first designated as such by President Donald Trump. As noted by the resolution, there are nearly 248,000 Vietnam era veterans living in Michigan with approximately 2,615 of them living in Berrien County.
Dozens of Vietnam veterans were on hand at last week’s County Board meeting as Commissioners approved an honorary resolution for them. Berrien County Veteran Services Officer Maureen Adams then read the name of each veteran in attendance as they received a Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin, commemorated with assistance from the Whirlpool Veterans & Allies Group and the Buchanan American Legion.
Paul Daly of the Whirlpool Veterans & Allies Group noted that the group formed more than a decade ago and reorganized in the last year or two. “One of our pillars is to support veterans in the community,” he said. “I’m reminded of a statement by Sir Isaac Newton that if he saw further than others, it was because he was standing on the shoulders of giants.”
County Board Chairman McKinley Elliott called the ceremony a wonderful way to start the board meeting. “This was a wonderful way to start the day,” he said. “Last week we had Miss Michigan and this week the Vietnam veterans. It’s all good.”
He reminded people to make sure to look at the plaque hanging in the Administration Building lobby listing the names of Berrien County men who died in the war. Elliott was among a handful of commissioners who took time to talk about friends and relatives who served in the war, some of whom didn’t come back.
Buchanan City Commissioner and Veteran Larry Money was among those taking part in the ceremony during last week’s meeting and also led everyone in the pledge of allegiance at the start of the meeting. He is a former American Legion state officer and is currently an American Legion National Executive Committeeman.
“When I stand in a room full of my brothers and sisters, that means a lot,” Money told those assembled. “Welcome to everyone here.”
In Michigan, Gov. Rick Snyder recognized Vietnam War veterans in 2012, proclaiming that the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War would be commemorated from May 28, 2012 to Nov. 11, 2025.
Also last week, County Commissioners got the chance to tour the new mobile command unit vehicle the county purchased in 2022 for $800,000 and which was recently delivered.
Interim Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit reminded commissioners that they had approved the project a few years ago after it was determined that the old mobile command unit was no longer road worthy. He called the mobile command unit a tool that is very important to the department’s operations.
Capt. Rockey Adams then told commissioners more about what the unit can do and why it’s needed. He pointed out the old unit was a 1979 Winnebago that had a door held on by duct tape. He cited the comments made recently by an area fire chief who said it was important to gain perspective on emergency situations in order to make better decisions.
“It’s got a lot of tech in it,” Adams said. “We have the ability to have cameras to give us views of the scene and even the responders in the field can pass information back. There’s a lot of networking ability with computer and data transfer and we can bring people into the network share video feeds, maps and plans.”
Besides being used in disasters, crime scenes and emergency situations, the new mobile command unit will also make an appearance at large community events including festivals and parades throughout the county.
In other news, Berrien County Commissioner Jim Curran gave an update on the renovation of the former AEP/Clark Equipment offices in Buchanan for county use. He informed fellow commissioners that the county has received a $3 million grant from the federal government to help pay for remodeling and updates to the building.
“The county was able to secure a $3 million grant from Sen. Peters’ office,” Curran said. “This is for the old AEP building the county has purchased at 500 Circle Drive in Buchanan. This is where the EOC and 9-1-1 centers will go along with IT and other departments. It will help with remodeling and updating the building. It’s not all we need, but it will help.”
County Administrator Brian Dissette noted that the effort to secure the grant took months of work and was also supported by U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga and Tim Walberg. “It’s great to see the federal budget approved and the monies flowing into Berrien County,” he said.
Sen. Peters, who is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in a press release that the $3 million for Berrien County is part of the final six funding bills Congress passed to keep the government funded through fiscal year 2024.
“This bipartisan legislation delivers critical resources to communities across the state of Michigan and our entire country,” Peters said in the release. “It will help protect the Great Lakes, secure our borders, strengthen our national security, drive economic growth and expand access to quality, affordable child care. It shows how much we can do when we put politics aside and bring home common sense solutions for the American people.”
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