8 GROUNDCOVER NEWS VETERANS Sgt. Shannon continues to serve by filling veteran service gaps Many Ann Arbor residents identify with the wonderful lyrics of the historic fight song for the University of Michigan and think of our community as "The Victors!" Yes, we are the home of many great achievements and the home for many of the best schools, public safety and social services available in this entire country. Despite all of the reasons for raising our fists and pounding our chest with pride, the question still remains, “Is our VA Hospital failing our victors?” Hidden behind all of the beauty, power and pride that surrounds our county, Washtenaw is home to a Veterans Administration Hospital (VA) serving over 70,000 veterans living in Southeast Michigan. One would think that in a world-class country, and a world-class county, our veterans would receive world-class service. Unfortunately this is not the case. Despite what seems to be overwhelming need, our VA Hospital only has 102 acute care and inpatient beds. To add fuel to the fire, our VA Healthcare System only offers a 40-bed community living center and a clinical building for outpatient, diagnostic and surgical services. This paints a dark picture of our country and our county. The unacceptably low amount of resources that are made available for the countless brave men and women who have devoted and dedicated their lives for this great country fall far beneath our nation’s mission, vision and promise. Now in every dark painting there shines a light, and this light is found in the life, love and lessons taught by Sergeant Stephanie J. Shannon of the DAVID MITCHELL Groundcover vendor No. 661 NOVEMBER 28, 2025 United States Army. Sgt. Shannon served and continues to serve this country with great honor, commitment and sacrifice. As the founder of Michigan Women Veterans Empowerment (MIWVE), Sgt. Shannon is on the tip of the spear in the daily battle against homelessness, food insecurity and the abandonment of our youth. MIWVE's mission is “to identify, connect, educate, advocate, support and empower all military veterans, service members, their families and the youth in the 8 dimensions of wellness (emotional, financial, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual).” As a true visionary leader, Sgt. Shannon knows what needs to be done and leads from her heart as she is led by the Spirit of Almighty God to achieve what might seem impossible. This battle-hardened wounded warrior has returned to civilian life with her boots on the ground. Sgt. Shannon is a proud graduate of Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. With the powerful combination of her battlefield training and her creative brain power, Sgt. Shannon deploys her knowledge of proven strategic tactics to address the major problems facing our country today. The MIWVE program is just one of a number of groundbreaking initiatives that have made Sgt. Shannon a sought-after keynote speaker for organizations and institutions throughout Washtenaw County and across the United States. Her message is clear: let's not just talk about our problems, but let's do something about them at the same time. No matter who you are or where you live in this country, as long as there is breath in your body and blood flowing through your veins it is never too late to get into the fight. I encourage you to join the fight by partnering with Sgt. Shannon and sharing your time and energy to stand side by side with a warrior whose words work. Sgt. Shannon is a published author of two books, and she is working on a third as a part of a national book tour in 2026. You can find out more about joining the fight against veteran homelessness by raising your right hand and signing up to serve as a volunteer with this great organization that makes a daily difference in the lives of people, including young people, from all walks of life. We are influenced each day by news reports of our government shutting down the very services that built this great country. Now, you have the opportunity to stand up and share your voice in support of the issues and programs that are being taken away by our current leadership in Washington, DC. If you are tired of sitting back and watching the dismantling of our jobs, services and possibly our very freedom as Americans, join Sgt. Shannon and speak out and fight the good fight of faith. You can find Sgt. Shannon via her website (empowermiwomenvets. com/) and schedule a personal consultation to learn how you can join in the fight against veteran homelessness. Through activities like an honor guard and drill team, Sgt. Shannon leads our youth with great honor and discipline. Through her great sacrifice Sgt. Shannon serves on the front lines of youth leadership development in our county and around the country. You might think that you are too old to be a part of this solution, but you are never too old to join the fight, even if that means rolling up your sleeves and writing a hefty check in support of the great work being done on the front lines by Sgt. Shannon. Your donation to this world-class nonprofit organization will literally change and sustain lives. During a time in which our wounded warriors are often pushed by the wayside and shunned, you can join Sgt. Shannon as she speaks out against many of the key issues that plague our community, our county and our entire country — sharing her battle-tested reflections from the heart of a wounded warrior. Your generous donations will allow you to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Sgt. Shannon. In addition to your financial support, you may also choose to join by serving as a volunteer. I invite you to join forces with Sgt. Shannon to become a part of an unbeatable team. Contact Sgt. Shannon today and donate your time to bring an end to veteran homelessness, while helping to develop our young people, the future leaders of the world.
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