As 2015 winds down, the Michigan Blue Star Mothers are looking forward to a busy 2016. The year for our Michigan chapters has been a busy one, and the photos shown here indicate some of the work done by local chapters all around the state of Michigan.

Blue Star Mothers of America, Inc. will celebrate their 74th year operating as a military support organization, on February 1, 2016. Most members are mothers of military personnel working together in an organized mission. Local chapters are the “feet to the pavement.” It’s where the work is done. Our missions include taking care of our troops and veterans, coming along side of the families of our fallen, and supporting each other. We have local chapters all over the state of Michigan.

December proved to be a busy month for our chapters. Chapters continued to collect items to be shipped in care packages to our troops overseas. Stockings were filled to be passed out at the VA hospital in Battle Creek. Fundraisers and donation drives continued to support the mission, and the Ionia, Kent, and Montcalm chapter was honored by WXMI-TV 17, Walmart ,and by folks in the city of Ionia with large donations. Wreaths were laid at cemeteries all over Michigan and Blue Star Mothers were there. We also became family to heroes who had no known family.

Work is being done to start chapters in Muskegon County, Isabella County and mothers are being contacted to start another chapter in Newaygo County. If you read this article and you are a mother of someone serving in the United States Military you can contact me and I’ll put you in touch with our membership chair and she can direct you to the place where these mothers are meeting or help you start a new chapter in the area in which you live.

Thank you to our service members, whereever they are serving. Thank you to their mothers wherever you are. Blue Star Mothers of America is here for you. If you are interested I can be reached at:  989-814-0650 or president.deptmi@bluestarmothers.us.