Warren to celebrate city’s veterans

WARREN — Warren will honor its veterans at the first “Honoring Heroes with Harmony” celebration at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, in the first-floor conference room at City Hall.

The event will be held in recognition of Veterans Day, which is commemorated annually on Nov. 11, when City Hall will be closed.

“We’re looking forward to celebrating the many men and women who have served our nation as veterans. We encourage them, their families and community members to come and join us,” Warren Mayor Lori Stone said.

The celebration will include patriotic music provided by the Warren Symphony Orchestra’s brass quintet along with light refreshments.

According to the mayor, the city has reached out to various organizations in the community to promote the event including Macomb Community College, which has a veterans outreach for its students and those who have served in the military. In addition, the city has contacted veterans living at senior residences. The event will also be promoted by the Parks and Recreation Department and through social media.

“We know there are no local databases for veterans. We have to build our own,” Stone said. “So that’s part of what goes along with this event is really starting that targeted outreach that will be carried forward by our Veterans Commission that will be coming.”

The mayor will name five members to the commission.

According to the mayor, it is estimated there are between 4,000 and 6,000 veterans residing in the city.

During the previous administration, the Warren City Council had adopted the legal language for a Veterans Commission ordinance to go into law; however, since the ordinance was never published, it could not move forward, Stone said.  The ordinance was published after she took office.

The mayor is currently accepting applications and conducting interviews for those interested in joining the Veterans Commission.  Interested candidates are encouraged to submit an application.

Applications can be found on the city’s website at cityofwarren.org under the “Government” tab and “Boards and Commissions” link.

Once completed, the application must be returned to the mayor’s office at Warren City Hall.