Report From Region 8 Veteran's Meeting
May 6th 2005 was a date for recognition
during the UAW Region 8 Veterans Council meeting held in Lebanon TN.
More than 60 veterans/delegates from across 12 states made up the ranks.
Just as diverse as our military today, the UAW Veterans in attendance
served from WWII to today’s Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom.
The big news of the day was that the Region 8 Veterans
Council was the first Region Council throughout all of the UAW to surpass
the goal of raising over $22,000.00 for a UAW sponsored resident home,
that’s being built at the VFW National Home for Children in Eaton
Rapids, Mich.
Mark Peterson from local 2069 and Veterans Council chairman
reports, “Most all local union veteran’s committee worked
very hard and raised funds to contributed to the Children’s Home
and also continued a very busy schedule within their own local union
veterans committee’s, it was the Region 8 Retiree Council chaired
by, Mr. Bill Hanner of local 882, that set us over the hump. The region
as a whole did a stand-up job, we’ve got a lot of hard worker
young and older alike across our region that pump their hearts in to
making a difference in veterans and in this case, their children’s
lives. We should each be proud and support them in all their efforts.
Really I cannot say enough good things about the whole group. I want
to really express our gratitude to the retiree’s of Region 8.
Our elder union brothers and sisters continue to lead just as they did
during their working days”. For more information go to www.vfwnationalhome.org
During the meeting, WWII and D Day veteran H.E. (Bud)
Farmer, a retiree from local 
737
was formally recognized for his service and sacrifice to our great country.
Bud lied about his age and at 16 joined the US Navy. At such a young
age Bud soon found himself at war and is one of a few men alive who
fought in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters.
During the meeting, WWII and D Day veteran H.E. (Bud) Farmer, a retiree
from local 737 was formally recognized for his service and sacrifice
to our great country. Bud lied about his age and at 16 joined the US
Navy. At such a young age Bud soon found himself at war and is one of
a few men alive who fought in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters.
During Bud’s introduction, Ed Jackson, also a retiree from local
737, explained that Bud was wounded twice during his tour of service
and was involved in the invasion of the Normandy Beaches, and on the
Pacific side of the war, his ship was nearly sunk by a Japanese bomber.
Bud very humbly accepted his gifts of appreciation, but noted without
complete total teamwork and commitment from all his comrades, he and
many others would have perished beneath the sea. Bud became a UAW member
in 1957 and after many years of work and leadership, retired in 1987.
Also
receiving special recognition was “Georgia’s and UAW local
10’s finest gentleman” Jimi Grant. Late last year brother
Grant announced his retirement after serving his union and veterans
for over 31 years. Jimi too, humbly excepted his tokens of appreciation
and commented on what a joy and how gratifying it had been to serve
such a great organization like the UAW and how honored he was to the
commitment the UAW has to serve the men and women that answered the
call and defended freedom.
Jimi Grant is an Air Force Vietnam veteran, serving his country from
1968 thru 1971. While flying 100 combat missions on an AC-119 Stinger
Gunship. Jimi earned several prestigious medals including the USAF Distinguished
Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf clusters and the Air Medal with seven
Oak Leaf Clusters.
In 1973, after the war Jimi Grant went to work at the
GM Assembly Plant in Doraville GA and became a union member of local
10. Thru the years Jimi Grant was appointed and elected to several positions
within the UAW Veterans. His most recent was elected position was chairman
of the Georgia Veterans Council.
Jimi Grant was appointed to the UAW National Veterans
Advisory Committee in 1994 where he will continue to serve until the
end of the year. Jimi Grant remains only one of five committee members
from the original 14 that has makes up the NVAC.
UAW Veteran historians point out that since its inception
Region 8 has played a lead role in the development and in the advancement
of today’s, UAW Veterans Department, the Advisory Board, Region
and Area Councils. Brother Grant has been involved since day one and
is considered an important element and key leader among the UAW Veterans.
Also involved in the Region 8 Veterans Council meeting were;
Donny Bevis, Asst. Director of Region 8. Int’l. Rep. Garry Bernath,
UAW Veterans Dept. Ret. Col. and Executive Director of, Operation Stand
Down/Nashville, Bill Burleigh. Asst. Commissioner of TN Dept. Veterans
Affairs, Don Samuels. Commander of Am. Ex-POW’s Alvin C. York
Chapter, Warren King Sr.
The Region 8 Veterans Council continues to thank everyone who helped
make the meeting a success.
Mark Peterson
Chairman
Region 8 Veterans Council
