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UAW Veterans Converge on Black Lake
By Mark Peterson
Photo Album of Mark Peterson Supplied By Mark Peterson

August 24-29, 2008, saw over 200 UAW Veterans from across the nation gather at the UAW Walter and May Reuther Family Education Center in Black Lake Michigan for the UAW National Veterans Conference. Union members from all military eras and age groups made up the delegation of patriots and veterans activists as the week’s agenda was set for a abundance of education and camaraderie.

Twenty Region 8 delegates attended the conference and made an impact in both the assembly hall lectures presentations as well as the classrooms with a vast amount of dialog and information to share.

Perry Kelser and Craig Branch, from local 3520 Cleveland N.C., Rickie Toney and myself (Mark Peterson) from local 2069 Dublin Virginia, took advantage of the conference dates and rode motorcycles instead of flying up. On the way we met Brad Haag, from local 912 in Connecticut and out of Region 9A, and continued northward.

Our ride was especially enjoyable; sharing camaraderie and conversations about veterans, politics and the union. Each of these members/riders, whom are leaders and very active in their locals and with veterans, were a real joy to travel with and learn from.

During the conference, UAW Vice President and Director of the UAW s Veterans Affairs Department, Cal Rapson, addressed the delegation and proudly boasted the efforts and accomplishments of the UAW Veterans. From the completion of the UAW House (Stephen P. Yokich Home) and many hours spent volunteering and sponsoring programs and activities at the VFW National Home for Children, to the many hours and monies raised volunteering at the VA Hospitals across the nation, to all the many project and initiatives in all the respective communities the UAW veterans outreach to. The Vice President continued to state the UAW Veterans were among the most motivated and pleasurable group to work with. We as UAW Veterans are especially proud of the support and patriotism our union leadership demonstrates and consider it an honor and privilege to represent the UAW and Vice President Cal Rapson.

The UAW continues to hold no bars in educating its membership and offering opportunities and avenues for union members to make a difference in our communities.
Workshop classes and training included Veterans Benefits, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Veterans Legislation and as apart of the NVAC (National Veterans Advisory Committee) Brad Haag and myself taught classes on establishing the Veterans’ Committee.

The education continued in the assembly hall with speakers including representatives from the Vietnam Veterans of America National Office (VVA), Veterans Affairs Volunteer Services (VAVS), Miss America 2000 Heather French Henry, Executive Director of the Heather French Foundation for Veterans, Tuskegee Airmen, VFW National Home for Children, and a very special presentation from Homes for the Troops and very well prepared report from the UAW National CAP office that included the many short comings and attacks of the Bush administration against working families and veterans.

As a member of the NVAC representing Region 8, I would like to extend my personal gratitude to Patrick Mulholland (Region 9-A) and Jimmy Wallace (Region 1) for all their many years and long hours as union and veterans advocates. I’ve had the pleasure of working with both of these dedicated men and wish them the best in their retirement years. Although they have not left the UAW Veterans scene, they have retired from the National Committee to make room for the new generation of UAW Veterans. Their legacy and footprints leaves us a great foundation to grow from.

In Solidarity

Mark Peterson
Region 8 NVAC
Region 8 Veterans Chairman
Local 2069 Veterans Chairman