Each year the Michigan State Senate holds a special Memorial Day Service, at the Capitol Building in Lansing, Michigan in honor of Fallen Soldiers and their Surviving Family members. This year the event was held May 23.

TACOM Chief of Staff Col. Jeffrey Witt and Detroit Arsenal Garrison Manager Joseph Moscone attended the event. All 38 State Senators were present for this ceremony and were allowed one special guest on the Senate floor with them for the ceremony.

"Our Command Staff, to include Col. Witt and Mr. Moscone, ensured that the Detroit Arsenal had a presence at both ceremonies; which showed our families that the Detroit Arsenal and the SOS program will always be there to support families and remember their fallen heroes," stated Jenny Downey, Detroit Arsenal Survivor Outreach Services Coordinator.

Additionally, every year the Governor of Michigan hosts a Memorial Day Luncheon at the Governor's Residence in honor of Fallen Soldiers and their Surviving Family Members.

All 514 Gold Star family members from Michigan were invited to this luncheon. A Gold Star family is the immediate family of a fallen service member who died while serving in a time of conflict.

"Governor Whitmer's staff did an excellent job of hosting the memorial luncheon," said Downey. "Every fallen service member was recognized at the event. This luncheon is a wonderful way for Gold Star families to connect, network, and share their stories with people who have similar experiences."

Army Community Services at the Detroit Arsenal services 105 Gold Star families through the SOS program which began at the arsenal in May 2009 when the US Army stood up the program. This was followed by the Army National Guard in August 2009. During January 2010 the US Army Reserve stood up their program. In total, the Army's SOS team has approximately 200 assigned coordinators in all three components.