Doug Karr

This is a fantastic time of year: parties, presents, friends and celebrations. Whether we’re all ready or not, the holiday season is officially in full swing. However, one of the biggest issues with the holidays is that many of us are caught up in the festivities rather than taking the time to remember and acknowledge what the season is all about: spending time with our loved ones and being grateful for another year.

Connections, bonds and a sense of belonging are what all of us crave, and those without, get the full weight of their absence. According to the Huffington Post, even the best of us are affected by loneliness during the holidays.

Tags: veteran affairs, Goodwill, USAgain, veteran health

A great program at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in partnership with the university’s Veterans Law Clinic, is working to address the many legal needs of Michigan veterans. Project Salute focuses on helping vets obtain pension and disability benefits by providing them with education, representation by a law student and in some cases, referrals to attorneys who will work pro bono.

Project Salute has hosted over 65 clinics for vets in 2010, and they have 35 more scheduled for the fall, according to the project’s executive director, Tammy Kudialis.

Tags: tammy kudialis, university of detroit mercy law school, veteran affairs, veterans