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2006 House Bill 5620: Expand Veterans Memorial Park in Lansing
Public Act 98 of 2006
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- Introduced by Rep. John Garfield (R) on February 1, 2006, to slightly expand the boundaries of Veterans Memorial Park in Lansing, Senate Bill 764 authorizes the erection of a monument in the park to honor Michigan citizens who have received the Purple Heart Medal awarded to those who are wounded or killed in battle.
- Referred to the House Veteran’s Affairs and Homeland Security Committee on February 1, 2006.
- Reported in the House on February 8, 2006, without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
- Referred to the House Veteran’s Affairs and Homeland Security Committee on February 1, 2006.
- Passed 103 to 0 in the House on February 21, 2006.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" - Received in the Senate on February 22, 2006.
- Referred to the Senate Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs Committee on February 22, 2006.
- Referred in the Senate on March 16, 2006, with the recommendation that the bill pass.
- Referred to the Senate Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs Committee on February 22, 2006.
- Passed 37 to 0 in the Senate on March 23, 2006, to slightly expand the boundaries of Veterans Memorial Park in Lansing, Senate Bill 764 authorizes the erection of a monument in the park to honor Michigan citizens who have received the Purple Heart Medal awarded to those who are wounded or killed in battle.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" - Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on April 2, 2006.
Most Recent Comments
1) A Little History Lesson by Anonymous Citizen on February 18, 2006Note that this bill would expand the size of the existing Michigan Vietnam War Memorial in Lansing to incorporate the Purple Heart Memorial. Seems like a great idea for recognizing the sacrifice made by those who have been wounded in combat.
But let’s consider that Vietnam Memorial business.
Back in the 1980s the Vietnam Vets Association up in Mt. Pleasant decided it was time Michigan had a memorial to recognize sacrifices made by Michiganders in their war. As you probably know, Vietnam was not a “popular” war, and politicians of that time routinely wanted to forget about it. That’s why the VVA bunch decided to take matters into their own hands. No other choice at the time. They raised the money and put their own labor into creating a fine Vietnam War Memorial, which was dedicated sometime around 1990 as the State of Michigan’s Official Vietnam War Memorial in Island Park, at Mt. Pleasant. It was a labor of love and respect and for many who put their own blood, sweat, tears and toil into it, a catharsis that healed a lot of hurt.
But then came the politicos, as they always do, with their own grandiose schemes, after recognizing the patriotism and sacrifices of the Vietnam Vets started to get respectable and even somewhat popular. And without batting an eye, those politicos decided that Michigan’s REAL Vietnam War Memorial belonged in Politician Paradise, also known as Lansing. So they proceeded to promote that idea, despite the history and existence of Michigan’s official Vietnam Memorial in Mt. Pleasant. The whole episode typifies revisionist, disdainful and often patronizing attitudes politicians seem to have toward vets, and particularly those of the Vietnam era. It also illustrates the generally careless attitude politicos have toward service people in general.
So maybe it’s OK to authorize the Purple Heart Monument in Lansing. But let’s not forget the shabby history of how its place in Politician Paradise got to be.
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America must Support Our Troops. It is like oatmeal and bathing. It is the right thing to do.
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Thank you for the expansion...will see you there June10th, 2006 for the Enduring Freedom Ride where we will show our Support for Veterans Past, Present and Future!
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