Events

Michigan Theater, 603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104 

The University of Michigan presents the seventh annual Stories of Service: An Evening with Veterans. This event continues to raise awareness and funds for Fisher House Michigan. 

Less than 10% of the U.S. population has served in the military, yet stories of service and movies about military service continue to be written and be popular — and many of these have little to do with the reality of serving in the military. 

We invite you to come and listen to true stories of life in the military. You will hear humanizing, moving stories, filled with humor, loss, and insight — all to honor the service of our men and women in uniform.

Featured storytellers:

Dr. Ray Christian: Retired paratrooper and national award-winning storyteller. Ray produces the podcast “What’s Ray Saying?”, which features stories born out of his experiences with poverty, racial injustice, his military experiences, and his sense of adventure.

Dr. John “Joe” Schwarz: Joe served in the the U.S. House of Representatives and the Michigan State Senate, as well as mayor of Battle Creek, Mich. He is an alumnus of the University of Michigan (1959), a medical doctor, and served in the U.S. Navy and the CIA during the Vietnam War.

Andrea M. Norton: Andrea is a champion for women veterans and those who identify as LGBTQ. She was the first LGBTQ veteran care coordinator at the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. She has worked in the VA medical center in Saginaw, working with homeless veteran populations and as a mental health case manager. She has a bachelors and masters degree in social work. Andrea is an Air Force veteran.

Derek Blumke: Derek is the State of Michigan adjutant & quartermaster of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). Derek served 12 years combined between active duty Air Force and MI Air National Guard. He was deployed to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. In 2007, Derek founded the Student Veterans Association at University of Michigan, where he is an alumnus. Soon after, he cofounded the national Student Veterans of America, where he served as president.

Miracle Okoro: Miracle is a Nigerian-American poet, student, and child advocate who now lives in Asheville, N.C., with her beloved dog Taz. Miracle joined the Army in April 2019 and is currently a mechanic in the Army Reserves.

Jennifer Lamb: Jennifer enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in 1994 and later commissioned as an officer on active duty until 2002. She was the first woman Marine assigned to an infantry company with Small Craft Company, 2nd Marine Division. Her last assignment was as the battalion executive officer for Camp Johnson, N.C., where she was serving during the attack on the United States during 9/11. Jennifer has a masters degree in social work and a masters degree in child development. She worked at Mott Children's Hospital, the University of Michigan's Military Support Programs and Networks, and for the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency.