Peters, Stabenow, Benishek Applaud Passage of Bill to Honor Michigan Veteran by Naming Traverse City VA Clinic

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and U.S. Rep. Dan Benishek (MI-01) today applauded the passage of bipartisan legislation to name the Traverse City Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) after Army Colonel Demas T. Craw, Medal of Honor recipient and a Traverse City-area native. The legislation unanimously passed the Senate last week and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“Colonel Demas Craw is a true American hero, who served our country in two world wars with honor and dignity,” said Senator Peters, a former Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve. “The passage of this legislation naming a VA clinic in Colonel Craw’s honor is a tribute to his service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation.”

“Naming this clinic after one of Traverse City's own heroes is a fitting tribute to Colonel Craw and to the thousands of local veterans who will receive care at this facility,” said Senator Stabenow. “It represents the commitment and fulfillment of promises we have made to our veterans.”

"This effort began at the local level, where citizens, veterans organizations, and many others came together in support of renaming the Traverse City clinic", said Representative Benishek. "Because of their efforts, it now stands as testament to the bravery and courage of Colonel Demas Craw's legacy, and to the spirit and dedication of Northern Michigan's veterans."

A Traverse City based VA health clinic is scheduled to be built and completed in 2017, replacing the current undersized facility.  The new clinic will provide additional health care services for thousands of Northern Michigan veterans from Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau and Manistee counties.

Colonel Craw was born in 1900 near Traverse City in Long Lake Township, and attended Traverse City Central High School before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1918. Craw served in both World Wars, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy, and rose to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Craw served in the U.S. Army Air Service as a military attaché to Greece where he reportedly came under fire 136 times and participated in 21 Royal Air Force bombing sorties. He received numerous commendations for his career of service, including the WWI and WWII Victory Medals, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the Purple Heart. Craw was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor after he was killed in action near Port Lyautey, French-Morocco in November 1942 while attempting to broker a cease-fire.

A broad coalition of veterans groups support naming the Traverse City VA Clinic after Colonel Craw, including the Grand Traverse Area Veterans Coalition, VFW Cherryland Post #2780 and Auxiliary, Fife Lake American Legion Post #219, Michigan American Legion Post #35, the  Northwestern Michigan Chapter of Military Officers Association of America, American Military League Post #1, Northwestern Michigan College, and Project Cherry Tree.