Oakland County will illuminate the top of the Oakland County Circuit Court building in green from Thursday, Nov. 10 through Monday, Nov. 13, joining communities across the United States which are participating in "Operation Green Light," a national campaign to honor veterans and to shine a spotlight on the services and resources that are available to them. The building is located at 1200 North Telegraph Road in Pontiac.
"The lights are a simple reminder that on Veterans' Day and on all days, we honor the men and women who make the decision to serve our country with courage, integrity and pride," Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter said. "To all the veterans in Oakland County, I humbly salute you for your service, your sacrifice and your devotion to country."
Coulter is welcoming leaders of veterans' organizations, county employees who are veterans, and county leaders to the Executive Office Building, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford, from 5 to 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10 for a reception and to watch the top of the courthouse become flooded in green light. Media are welcome to attend.
The National Association of Counties created Operation Green Light as a tribute to veterans across the county. It is designed to inspire local veterans to explore the services provided to them by their local Veteran's service offices.
Oakland County Veterans' Services helps more than 58,000 veterans who live in Oakland County with a variety of services. The county's veterans' benefits counselors advocate on behalf of veterans and their dependents to access their state and federal benefits including disability compensation, pension, health care, burial benefits, education, life insurance, home loans, and transportation program to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in Detroit and Ann Arbor.
Veterans' benefit counselors also collaborate with Oakland County Michigan Works! to provide veterans and transitioning service members with the tools needed to obtain employment. The job search assistance includes priority access to job postings, career exploration and planning, removal of barriers to employment, training opportunities, tuition assistance, and workshops on interviewing, writing a resume, and conducting job searches.
To learn more about services available to veterans, go to Oakgov.com/Veterans.
Oakland County Veterans' Services also hosts monthly veterans' resource fairs where representatives from several organizations are available to veterans, active duty, guard and reserves, and their families. They include the Detroit V.A.; Oakland County Housing & Neighborhood Development Division offering housing counseling; Oakland Community Health Network for behavioral health issues including a health screening; Oakland County Parks and Recreation, which provides free parks' passes to veterans; and Oakland County Michigan Works! providing career planning, training programs, job search resources , and the opportunity to meet with an employment specialist.
Oakland County Veterans' Services provides information and claims assistance for veteran benefits and gives away $50 Meijer gift cards to eligible veterans who are Oakland County residents and who present a copy of their DD214. Free nonperishable food boxes are also available. Here is a list of upcoming veterans' resource fairs which run 9 a.m. to noon:
- 17, 2022, at Orion Parks - Parks and Recreation, 1335 Joslyn Rd. in Lake Orion
- 16, 2022, at Troy Community Center, 3179 Livernois Rd. in Troy
- 26, 2023, at Wixom Community Center, 49015 Pontiac Tl. in Wixom
Oakland County Veterans' Services has two offices which accept both appointments and walk-ins. The Pontiac office is located at 1200 North Telegraph Road, in Building 26 East on the county government campus. Veterans and their dependents may reach the office at 248-858-0785. The South Oakland office is at 1151 Crooks Road, Entrance B, in Troy. Their phone number is 248-655-1250.
Outreach appointments are available in Holly by appointment the second Tuesday of each month at the Karl Richter Community Center and in Farmington Hills by appointment on the second Thursday of each month at CARES of Farmington Hills. To schedule an outreach appointment, call 248-858-0785 for Holly and 248-655-1250 for Farmington Hills.
Original source can be found here.
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