Veteran asks Michigan to make a five-minute Buddy Check this Veterans Day

Navy SEAL veteran Evan Shelline is urging people across metro Detroit to call one veteran they know ahead of Veterans Day and ask how they are doing. He says the simple check-in can matter most for older veterans who may be isolated, and he is offering free Veteran Musters for senior living communities in Southeast Michigan.

Why it matters: - A five-minute call can reach veterans who may be the least likely to ask for help. - Shelline says the Buddy Check approach is especially important for veterans from Korea and Vietnam who are now in their 70s, 80s and 90s. - Veteran Musters give senior living communities a no-cost way to bring veterans together for support and connection.

What happened: - Ahead of Veterans Day, Navy SEAL veteran Evan Shelline asked people across metro Detroit to call one veteran they know and check in. - Shelline is the founder and president of VETTED in Troy. - Shelline founded The Veteran Muster: All Present and Accounted For to bring veterans in senior living communities together for 60 to 90 minutes. - The gatherings are veterans-only and focus on camaraderie, remembrance and storytelling.

The details: - Veterans call the check-in a Buddy Check. - Shelline said peer-to-peer support is the highest quality support in mental health. - Many older veterans never talked about their service with their families. - Some veterans came home to a country that did not welcome them. - Others drifted away from people who shared their military experience. - Veteran Musters honor the fallen, remember those still missing and give veterans a chance to check on one another. - No one is required to speak at a Muster. - VETTED Veteran Care organizes Veteran Musters with senior living communities throughout Southeast Michigan. - The community provides a room and helps invite its veterans. - There is no charge to host or attend. - No services are solicited during the gathering. - Every veteran is welcome, from any branch and any era, whether or not they live in the host community. - To host a Muster, communities can visit vettedvc.com/veteran-muster or call 248-794-9292. - Shelline served about a decade in the U.S. Navy, including about six years with the SEAL Teams. - He founded VETTED in 2024 as an SBA-certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business in Troy, Michigan. - VETTED provides in-home care for veterans in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties. - Shelline chairs the Veteran Advisory Committee at Lily Hospice and serves as Senior Vice Commander of Sgt. Stanley F. Romanowski VFW Post 6896. - The Veteran Muster is an independent veteran fellowship initiative organized by VETTED Veteran Care. - The program is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. - If someone is worried about a veteran, the Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Between the lines: - Shelline is aiming at a problem veterans groups often miss: isolation among older veterans who may not seek out peer support on their own. - The Muster model lowers the barrier to participation by making the event local, free and non-demanding. - The emphasis on no required speaking and no solicitation suggests the gatherings are designed to feel safe rather than formal.

What's next: - Senior living communities in Southeast Michigan can continue booking Veteran Musters at no cost. - Shelline is asking residents, families and neighbors to make Buddy Checks before and around Veterans Day. - People worried about a veteran can use the Veterans Crisis Line immediately if needed.

The bottom line: - Shelline wants Michigan’s Veterans Day gesture to be simple: pick one veteran, make the call and listen.