​CLINTON TOWNSHIP – It is with a great deal of sadness that Supervisor Bob Cannon announced Friday that The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center, will no longer be coming to Clinton Township from September 10 to September 13, 2020.  The Wall That Heals was due to return to Clinton Township for the third time in 10 years, a remarkable accomplishment that few other communities in the United States can boast.
 
The event, which is hosted by Clinton Township on the grounds of the Civic Center and supported by generous sponsors, would have brought the preeminent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to the area for Vietnam veterans, family members, and other members of the public.  “Clinton Township and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund jointly decided to postpone the visit out of an abundance of caution for our visitors and volunteers,” said Cannon “While disappointed, this decision has become necessary. We already are looking at dates in 2021 to reschedule this important event,” he said.
 
The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,276 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
 
“The decision to cancel felt like a sucker punch to the stomach.  Our office spent months planning out very detailed safety measures so that we could host responsibly” Cannon said,  “The unpredictable factors surrounding COVID-19 continue to make it difficult to plan for just about anything, and yet we were so hopeful that the September dates would work, ” he said.
 
Deputy Supervisor Liz Vogel echoed Cannon’s sentiments. “When we hosted the wall in 2015, I met many wonderful members of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 154.  They became my buddies.  We laughed together and cried together.  The Wall That Heals really is just that—a healing wall,” said Vogel. “What I didn’t know then is that I would make new friends that I still have today, which has been a blessing,” she said.
 
The good news is that Clinton Township is guaranteed to host The Wall That Heals in 2021 or 2022.  Cannon will share the news of rescheduled dates as soon as practicable. 
 
About The Wall That Heals
 
The Wall That Heals is transported from community to community in a 53-foot trailer.  When parked, the trailer opens with exhibits built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall, and the divisive era in American history.
 
The three-quarter scale Wall replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors will experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C. Visitors can do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall.
 
The mobile Education Center display includes digital photo displays of “Hometown Heroes” – service members whose names are on The Wall that list their home of record within the area of a visit and the “In Memory Honor Roll” – Vietnam veterans from the local area honored through VVMF’s In Memory program which honors veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died as a result of their service. A display of items representative of those left¬ at The Wall in D.C. tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the era surrounding the conflict.
 
The 2020 national The Wall That Heals tour is generously sponsored by USAA and transported thousands of miles across the country each year through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and the trucking industry.
More than 300,000 people visited The Wall That Heals exhibit in 2019. Since its debut in 1996, the exhibit has been displayed in nearly 600 U.S. communities in addition to an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces of Ireland and a visit to Canada in 2005.
 
The Wall That Heals is a program of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1982. The Wall That Heals is the only traveling exhibit affiliated with The Wall in Washington, D.C., and includes the largest Wall replica that travels the country. Two VVMF staff members lead volunteers on site, educate visitors and students, and ensure the reflective atmosphere of The Wall. For more information, go to www.thewallthatheals.org.
 
About VVMF
 
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C., in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF’s mission is to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era through programs, ceremonies, and education materials. To learn more about VVMF, visit www.vvmf.org, or call 202-393-0090.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP – During the recent stay-at-home order, many of us have noticed our indoor surroundings have become cluttered with items we no longer use. Old computers, televisions, and other electronic devices take up valuable space and collect dust, and can be a problem to dispose of properly.
 
Clinton Township is offering a solution. On Saturday, August 8, from 9 a.m. to noon, in the Clinton Township Civic Center parking lot, residents have an opportunity to get rid of their unwanted electronic junk.
 
“It’s a free event, in step with social distancing guidelines, for our residents to properly and safely dispose of their old electronic products,” said Township Supervisor Bob Cannon. “We offer curbside service, which means you stay in your car, but you’ll need to roll down your window to show identification proving you are a Clinton Township resident,” he said. 
 
According to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), one of the best reasons to hold an electronic waste collection event is to protect the environment. Some electronic devices can contain toxins like lead, cadmium, and mercury – all considered hazardous if not disposed of properly. For Township residents who are concerned, these devices will end up in a local landfill, bringing unwanted electronic devices to a recycling event is the answer.
 
Acceptable electronic wastes include almost anything with a power cord that isn’t on the DEQ’s unacceptable list. This includes computers and accessories, printers, cell phones, home phones, radios, stereo systems, CD players, TV’s, DVD and Blu-Ray players, fax machines, photocopiers, typewriters, and word processors, game consoles and accessories.
 
Unacceptable items include latex and oil-based paint, explosives, flares, fireworks, weapons and ammunition, radioactive waste, industrial and commercial waste, compressed gas cylinders, trash, tires, yard waste, appliances, and white goods, Freon-containing items, medications, and syringes.
 
The DEQ recommends that you completely delete the data on your old computer and other electronic devices before recycling. For tips on deletion, contact a local computer repair center.

Clinton Township is investigating public sewers and found a location
where an immediate sewer repair is needed under Golden Street, at the Arcyle
Street intersection. The contractor responsible for the repair will be on-site this
week to make the repair. The repair will require concrete sections of Golden Street
to be removed and replaced.

During the sewer repair and pavement replacement, a detour will be necessary for
the road closure and you will need to seek an alternate travel route. Please use
Danbury Street and Weideman Streets as alternate routes around this intersection
for access to Little Mack and 15 Mile Road. We expect Golden Street to be fully
open to traffic in approximately two weeks.

We apologize in advance for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and
understanding as this matter is being resolved quickly as possible.
Please contact the Clinton Township Department of Public Services
at 586-286-9300 with any questions.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP – A plan for the installment of an inclusive playground in a Clinton Township park is beginning to take shape with the Clinton Township Civic Center as the recommended location.  
 
“Individuals with special needs deserve a place to recreate, with, and not separated from everyone else in our community,” said Clinton Township Treasurer Paul Gieleghem, a member of the Clinton Township Inclusive Playground Committee, formed last fall. “We believe the Township Civic Center has some of the existing infrastructure and amenities that make this an ideal location for an inclusive playground,” he said.
 
“We hope this can be an attraction point for area families coming from the MISD, Glen Peter’s School, or Lutz School nearby,” added Trustee Ken Pearl who also served on the Site-Selection Committee. “We want to provide something special for families who may be visiting the Civic Center already while another family member plays baseball or soccer,” he said.
 
The need for a playground to serve the special needs of 4,600 individuals living in Clinton Township was established last fall by the Clinton Township Board of Trustees at the request of AnnMarie Ottoy, a Clinton Township resident who serves as Community Relations Specialist for The Arc of Macomb County.
 
“Advocating for amenities to serve the disability community is part of my job,” said Ottoy. “It’s also a passion as a mother of a special needs son.”
 
Ottoy was appointed to the Inclusive Playground Committee by the Township Board and then elected by the Committee to serve as the chair. “Even in the midst of a pandemic, I couldn’t be more pleased with the commitment of members who agreed to serve, and the support from the Board of Trustees,” she said. “Agreement on the Civic Center as a location will serve as a jumpstart to the next phase, reaching out and building the community support we will need.” 
 
The Inclusive Playground Committee concurred in the recommendation of site-selection sub-committee members Paul Gieleghem, Treasurer; Ken Pearl, Trustee, and Mary Bednar, Director of Public Services. Bednar estimated that 14,000 to 15,000 square feet are needed to accommodate the necessary playscapes for children with and without physical disabilities.  
 
“The area identified next to the existing comfort station allows for expansion, is close to where families congregate and is near infrastructure and amenities that seamlessly support public activities,” said Bednar.
 
According to the Playground Committee, the next step is to ask the Township Board of Trustees for their concurrence of the Civic Center location. The discussion is scheduled to take place at the July 13, Board of Trustees virtual meeting held on GoToMeeting. Members of the public can find the access code and instructions to join the meeting through the Township’s website at www.clintontownship.com.

CLINTON TOWNSHIP – The Wall That Heals, a three-quarter scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial along with a mobile Education Center, will now be coming to Clinton Township from September 10 to September 13, 2020. Originally scheduled from July 16 to July 19, the display’s visit to Clinton Township has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
 
“The unpredictable factors surrounding COVID-19 will not allow us to host the exhibit at this time, said Township Supervisor Bob Cannon. “I’m hopeful that by the middle of September, things will improve, and area residents can experience The Wall as we did in 2010 and 2015,” he said.
 
“The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund is looking forward to returning to Clinton Township with The Wall That Heals mobile exhibit,” said VVMF president and CEO Jim Knotts.  “The health and safety of our visitors is of the utmost importance. We hope that this postponement will allow more local veterans and their families a chance to experience The Wall,” he said.
 
Knotts went on the say that the steps VVMF and the host committee are taking to provide the exhibit in the safest manner possible will benefit all those who visit in September. When the exhibit arrives in September, it will be on display on the grounds of the Township Civic Center and will be open 24 hours a day and free to the public.
 
The Wall That Heals honors the more than three million Americans who served in the U.S. Armed forces in the Vietnam War, and it bears the names of the 58,276 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam.
 
Community support is needed to bring The Wall That Heals to Clinton Township. It takes more than 100 volunteers to set up and take down The Wall, as well as staff and guide visitors 24 hours a day.
 
Financial and in-kind donations are also needed to help support this community event. As planning stages develop, the Township will list a dedicated phone number and website for residents to apply.
 
Several sponsors that have already stepped forward to support the event are Plante Moran, Jim Riehl Friendly Automotive, Moran Chevrolet, Medstar Ambulance, Resurrection Cemetery, George Development Group, AEW Engineering, and an individual donation from Bob Cannon.
 
School and youth groups are encouraged to visit The Wall That Heals. Trained staff from VVMF will be on-site to provide free educational tours of the exhibits. Tours can be customized based on ages so visitors can learn about the history of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, hear stories of those who served in Vietnam and learn about the impact of the Vietnam War on America. More information about tours will be announced as plans develop.
 
About The Wall That Heals
The Wall That Heals is transported from community to community in a 53-foot trailer.  When parked, the trailer opens with exhibits built into its sides, allowing it to serve as a mobile Education Center telling the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall, and the divisive era in American history.
 
The three-quarter scale Wall replica is 375 feet in length and stands 7.5 feet high at its tallest point. Visitors will experience The Wall rising above them as they walk towards the apex, a key feature of the design of The Wall in D.C. Visitors can do name rubbings of individual service member’s names on The Wall.
 
The mobile Education Center displays includes digital photo displays of “Hometown Heroes” – service members whose names are on The Wall that list their home of record within the area of a visit and the “In Memory Honor Roll” – Vietnam veterans from the local area honored through VVMF’s In Memory program which honors veterans who returned home from Vietnam and later died as a result of their service. A display of items representative of those left­ at The Wall in D.C. tell the story of the Vietnam War, The Wall and the era surrounding the conflict.
 
The 2020 national The Wall That Heals tour is generously sponsored by USAA and transported thousands of miles across the country each year through a partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) and the trucking industry.
 
More than 300,000 people visited The Wall That Heals exhibit in 2019. Since its debut in 1996, the exhibit has been displayed in nearly 600 U.S. communities in addition to an April 1999 tour of the Four Provinces of Ireland and a visit to Canada in 2005.
 
The Wall That Heals is a program of VVMF, the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1982. The Wall That Heals is the only traveling exhibit affiliated with The Wall in Washington, D.C., and includes the largest Wall replica that travels the country. Two VVMF staff members lead volunteers on site, educate visitors and students, and ensure the reflective atmosphere of The Wall. For more information, go to www.thewallthatheals.org.
 
About VVMF
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF) is the nonprofit organization that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) in Washington, D.C., in 1982. VVMF continues to lead the way in paying tribute to our nation’s Vietnam veterans and their families. VVMF’s mission is to honor and preserve the legacy of service in America and educate all generations about the impact of the Vietnam War and era through programs, ceremonies, and education materials. To learn more about VVMF, visit www.vvmf.org, or call 202-393-0090.