HomeMy WebLinkAboutThanking all Military Veterans & Honoring Danielle Green for her Dedicated Services to the Local Veterans of our Community RESOLUTION
4508-15
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana
November 9, 15
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Attest: C �GZ�� City Clerk
Attest President of Common Council
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana
November 10, 20 15
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Approved and signed by me i 0\1Q^i Ve r t 0 20 L 5.
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A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND,INDIANA,PUBLICLY THANKING
ALL MILITARY VETERANS FOR THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND HONORING ONE OF OUR LOCAL
HEROES DANIELLE GREEN FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICES TO THE LOCAL VETERANS OF OUR
COMMUNITY AS THE SOUTH BEND VET CENTER'S
SUPERVISORY READJUSTMENT COUNSELING THERAPIST TEAM LEADER
d)fib., ,the Common Council recognizes that each year Americans pause to thank and celebrate Veterans Day which
is dedicated to honoring all of the men and women who have served in the United States military. This public holiday began
as a day of remembrance and declared an official holiday by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919 as Armistice Day and then
was officially changed to Veterans Day in 1954; and
ON, ,the Common Council is especially grateful to honor tonight two(2) special individuals who have continued
to serve veterans long after their military service was completed, namely former Army Specialist with the 571s` Military
Police Company Danielle Green who serves as the South Bend Vet Center's Supervisory Readjustment Counseling
Therapist Team Leader and Marine Kevin D.Kelsheimer who serves as the St.Joseph County Veteran Service Officer;and
Wine,Danielle grew up in Chicago's southside with her grandmother, earned a basketball scholarship to
Notre Dame where she wore # 12 as an outstanding Guard from 1995-1999 where she became known for her
"toughness, drive and versatility"; graduated with a degree in psychology; returned to Chicago to teach; and
because of her desire "to serve my country" enlisted in 2003 and was attached to the 571S` Military Police
Company which was deployed to Iraq in January 2004. On May 25`h, while guarding an Iraqi Police Station just
5 miles outside Baghdad's International Zone, an enemy-fired rocket-propelled grenade exploded causing
devastating wounds to Danielle's upper left arm and thigh and severed her left arm just below the elbow. A
Sergeant retrieved her wedding and engagement rings and placed them on her right hand as she was helicoptered
away where she faced multiple surgeries and therapy; had to learn how to use her non-dominant hand and was
medically retired from the service on December 7, 2007, after which she returned to Chicago where she earned a
Master's Degree in counseling while working in sports administration for the Chicago Public Schools and at the
Malcolm X Community College; and
Offonad, since 2010, after "regaining hope" through organizations like Disabled Sports, Salute American
Heroes and Impact a Hero, Danielle worked at the Readjustment Counseling Services Center in Orland Park,
Illinois;and since January 2013 Danielle has worked as the Supervisory Readjustment Counseling therapist Team
Leader at the South Bend Vet Center where she provides counseling services to combat veterans&their families.
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Section I. On behalf of all of the residents of the City of South Bend, Indiana, the Common Council is proud to
recognize Danielle Green and publicly thank and commend this special veteran who once said "God could have
taken me, but he gave me a little more time to live, to fulfill the mission...I lost an arm. I saw a lot of people at
Walter Reed who were much worse off than I am". All of South Bend honors you for your mission here.
Section II. We are proud that you have made South Bend your home, and for continuing to "give back and
continue to fulfill your mission of serving your country and fellow veterans"with compassion&true dedication.
Se ', his Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Common Council
I. asproval by •e Mayor. tt' yy��i
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Tim,�ltri Olt�f. !. •,6'h Dis rict
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Henry.!ay vt , District Derek D.Dieter, •ttarge W '
Valerie Sc,7,3`. Iistrict Gavin rlic,At Large
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Dr. Fred Ferlic, • District Karen L.White,At Large
Dr 11!. id Varner, 5'h District Kathleen Cekanski Farrand,Council Attorney
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John Voorde,City Clerk Pete But ' leg, r of South Bend
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The South Bend Common Council, 4th Floor County-City Building,South Bend, Indiana 46601
574.235.9321 TDD 574.235.5567
November 3, 2015
Members of the South Bend Common Council
4th Floor County-City Building
South Bend, Indiana 46601
Re: Two (2) Resolutions Honoring Two (2) Local Heroes—Veterans Day 2015
Dear Council Members:
We are especially proud to honor two (2) special Veterans as we participate, as a grateful nation, in honoring all
of our Veterans for their commitment to serve, their individual sacrifice, their valor, and their love of country.
We are asking that the attached two special Resolutions be heard together under "Special Business" so that we
may honor two local heroes together. We are most humbled that we will have Danielle Green and Kevin D.
Kelsheimer present at our next Common Council meeting to represent our community's and our nation's
veterans.
Following their service in two different wars — one in Vietnam and one in Iraq, both decided to give back by
providing critical and needed services to our local veterans. Each of them provide the help and assistance which
goes far beyond any debriefing which a veteran may have had. Each day they commit their time and talents to
working with veterans who may be challenged — whether it be to help provide assistance when dealing with
physically, emotionally, psychologically or returning to civilian life issues; or trying to assist a veteran, a
surviving spouse or family maneuver through the red tape and legalize of applying for veteran benefits.
As we celebrate Veterans Day 2015, let us all give thanks for those who served and are serving. Thank you.
Most sincerely,
Dr. Fred Ferlic
4th District Council Member
Gavin Ferlic
Council Member at Large
Attachments