What Our Guests Say

As a Vietnam vet, we were not treated very nice on return.   When I retired from  a regular job and had time to travel, I heard the Freedom Center announcement. I visited, thought it was a   great experience and volunteered.    

My dear   friends from the Veteran's Community Action Team: the late Tim Wirkus; Monica Munir, Veteran's Transition   Services; and Chaka McDonald, Oakland   Community Health Network (OCHN) Veteran Navigator shared with me the beauty   of service to those that serve us. My father was a Marine. I recall his pride of service to our   Country. When Tim shared with me the   opportunity to volunteer at the MI Freedom Center I was thrilled. Today, I find great joy in the stories of   the volunteers and the men, women and families that visit the MI Freedom   Center. I am inspired by those in our   community that donate to the MI Freedom Center and thank them personally whenever I am able.     

As a veteran with both Army  & Air Force service, I understand the sacrifices of our military and felt   volunteering at the Freedom Center would be a small way to give back to the  military. However small that may be - when small & seemingly insignificant hours add up: what we are doing for our military truly matters.    

Being a veteran, the idea of   giving back to our country inspired me to volunteer. What greater opportunity   than the Freedom center.    

The charge of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree is patriotism. I felt that   volunteering at the Freedom Center would be a great way to represent the 4th Degree and to be patriotic in helping our current military, our veterans and   allies. This is my way to give back to those who have given so much and   continue to give to keep America Great. When our military guests come to the   Freedom Center you can see the appreciation on their faces and their appreciation in how they respond to us being there for them as they travel. I   look forward to every day I can give of my time at the center.    

Ability to serve those that gave and are giving so much for our freedom    

I  retired and began looking for opportunities to serve. On a trip to one of my children that moved   to California, I came across Freedom Center and used it. So I decided to volunteer.    

I am a   DTW Ambassador and heard Freedom Center message.

To help our military in any way possible! 

A service project for my red hatters organization. We look forward to helping others.  

My son has traveled with the Army all over the world. He always talked about going to a USO and how he appreciated them. Once I retired I wanted to repay the to others the welcome he always received.     

When I retired I wanted to help veterans, I  had visited the center previously and thought that would be a good way to serve  

My Father, who was a proud WWII survivor. He was in the Red Bull division of the Army. After landing in   Ireland and training a couple of months, they left for N. Africa. On the way   their ship was torpedoed. They were picked up by the English ship The Sheffield,   which pulled along side and bumped the sinking ship at which time the men had   to jump. After landing in Algeria they saw battles in Kasserine, Fodouk and Tunisia.  No rest for the men as they went on to Sicily and started up the boot of Italy. Naples, Anzio, and Cassini were battle sites. My dad was wounded and   sent to a hospital in Rome. After recovering he went on to continue fighting   till the end of the war. My Father was my hero and I proudly volunteer in his honor.

I am a veteran and have used the   Freedom Center, before I volunteered. I really appreciated a place to relax and get some snacks, while waiting for my flights. My wife and I enjoy meeting the veterans that visit the Freedom Center and feel good about volunteering by assisting our fellow veterans.     

My son had just joined the USMC when I began volunteering so I wanted to be involved and learn about the process. My daughter is now serving in the Navy. 

Founding Board member 

My son visited when he was first in the Army. His flight was delayed due to an ice storm and he was able to eat and   rest while he waited. Once our dog   Lila became certified as a therapy dog I decided that the freedom center   would be the perfect addition to our visits.    

Gives me the opportunity to   thank those are still serving and have served this country and the spouses of   those serving.  

Helping  our troops and also a retiree of Delta Airlines Flight Attendant and wanted to give back to the armed services while being a presence in the Delta Terminal. 

My son Matthew is in the Navy;   my nephews Justin, Jeremy are in the Army; and my nephew Brandon was in the   Army. So I volunteered at the Lansing   office and it was great to meet the other military officers and the good   young people that were joining!! I   enjoyed listening and helping our military just for a couple of hours a   month!! The MI Freedom Center is a wonderful place! Thank you for putting this center   together! God Bless America!!    

My family have always been huge military supporters. I have 2 nephews that are   currently serving in the Air Force and I know how much they appreciate   military lounges wherever they go.    

Help those who served

I used  the center while I was traveling, I wanted to give back.  

I am not a veteran nor do I have any veterans in my immediate family.  I volunteer because only a fraction of us have ever served, yet we ALL benefit from the freedom those who serve and have served have bought for us at a great price.  Their sacrifice and the sacrifices of their loved ones deserves honor and gratitude.

Knowing the lack of support for   those of us in the military in the late 60's, early 70's, I made it a point to join the Freedom Center to make sure I can meet these troops, and let them know how appreciated they are, many times asking about them and their   families, and as a chaplain, asking if I can pray for them or a certain   situation they're involved in.    

Wanted to give back to those who are serving or have served. Also wanted to show there is a strong need for this service even if the USO thought differenty 

Give  back to a new generation of our nations armed servive members and share with them the experiences of my   service time.  

I am a veteran    

To give back and continue to   serve those who serve us. We never stop serving!

My granddaughter is a Captain in the Army  

I had recently retired and I   wanted to do something to support the military. Since I live over 2 hours  away, I needed something that didn’t require a huge time commitment.     

My uncle and 2 brothers both served in the military. And I enjoy meeting different people and learning a little about their lives.  

To payback to those who have   served or are still serving to protect our freedom and liberty. 

Keeping my brother's memory alive, in serving at the center, since he has passed and I do it in his honor.

He would have stepped up to the plate also, if he was still here!

I've signed up with other friends.  We enjoy driving up and serving together.  We all have worked at the

North Terminal and are familiar with it.  Enjoy helping out the military and all.

As a retired flight attendant, I knew I would volunteer after I retired. While I was working, I always let my passengers know about the Freedom Center.  Either thru direct conversation or by making an announcement during descent.