 Dear Friend,
On Memorial Day, Michiganders come together to honor our courageous service members who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and keep us safe.
Americans who represent us in uniform are the best of us. Here in Michigan, we will always treat our veterans with the care and respect they deserve and honor those no longer with us. They put their lives on the line for us, and we must hold up our end of the bargain by supporting them with the education, housing, and health benefits they have earned.
That’s why, today, I was in the U.P. to break ground on the new D.J. Jacobetti Veterans Home in Marquette. Thanks to a $33 million state investment, this new, state-of-the-art facility will ensure that veterans in the U.P. will always have a place to call home and receive high-quality care. As we look to Memorial Day, we recognize that some debts cannot be repaid with words alone. They require action and investments that will make a real difference in the lives of our veterans.
This Memorial Day, on Monday, let’s honor the memory of those we have lost in service to our nation. I urge all Michiganders to take part in honoring our nation’s fallen heroes — attend a parade or seek out a local event. And let’s make sure we continue wrapping our arms around those who have lost a loved one.
Together, let’s continue supporting our service members, veterans, and their families as we build a stronger, safer Michigan for all.
Sincerely,
 Gretchen Whitmer
Governor
 Breaking Ground on the D.J. Jacobetti Veterans Home
Today, we broke ground on the new D.J. Jacobetti Veterans Home in Marquette, which will soon be transformed into a place of refuge, a place of healing, and a place of community where all are treated with dignity.
 This new facility will offer quality long-term care for veterans in the U.P. and ensure they get access to the resources they need to thrive. The new home will serve more than 100 veteran members who will live in three unique neighborhood buildings that provide each veteran member with their own bedroom and bathroom and common gathering and kitchen spaces. These neighborhoods will connect to a community center with clinical and therapeutic services and amenities like a barbershop and salon and café bistro.
Dominic Jacobetti was the longest-serving member of the Michigan House of Representatives. He dedicated his life to fighting for his fellow Yoopers, and one of his long-term goals was to ensure that veterans in the UP would always have a place to call home. He wanted to build a place that recognized their sacrifices and treated them with the respect they had earned.
Thanks to a nearly $33 million state investment, we’re building a new, state-of-the-art veterans home that bears his name. This facility will be unique, offering residents more privacy than ever and high-quality amenities. On over 38 acres of land, the new facility will fulfill Mr. Jacobetti’s dream of creating a place where our heroes feel at home and receive the care and respect they deserve.
I am grateful to all the partners who made this possible—from the builders and planners to the families and caregivers.
To our veterans and service members, thank you for your service.
Resources for Michigan’s Veterans
- Since I took office, we have opened two new Michigan Veteran Homes in Chesterfield Township and Grand Rapids. For more information about Michigan Veterans Homes, including to check eligibility, visit www.michigan.gov/mvh
- Today and every day, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency is here to meet the needs of Michigan veterans. If you are a veteran, make sure you know the benefits and resources available to you by calling 800-MICH-VET (800-642-4838) or visiting www.michigan.gov/MVAA.
- If you are a veteran in crisis or are concerned about one, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 988 and press 1, text 838255, or chat online confidentially at www.veteranscrisisline.net.
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