Military, First Responders & Veterans

This mission is near and dear to RGPC. We support all who serve, and are serving the USA.

This group is dedicated to creating an online community for all active military, veterans, first responders and their families. group has a language and experience all of its own and we are dedicated to giving you a space and place in which to interact and engage with others who know that life.


We also seek to support the families of all those who have served, as well. We welcome you here to your very own community. Thank you Jesus for every soldier & first responder protecting & serving us through this night. Like warm covers in the cold, blanket them in your love & our prayers of gratitude.


Rosedale Gardens became a “Military Caring Congregation” through Military Caring Network, USA. As a congregation, we expanded our ministry of serving those who serve to include first responders and families of both military and first responders.



You can reach out to Dave via Email - dlaycock@rosedalegardens.org

2020 Memorial Day Video



JOIN US IN HONORING

OUR VETERAN OF THE MONTH


This month, we are recognizing Robert Brown, Petty Officer 1 st

Class, U.S.


Navy & Veteran of the Korean War.


Robert Brown joined the Navy in 1950, stepping aboard an Aircraft Carrier for the first time in

Norfolk, VA. He thought at the time, ‘Wow, that’s a big boat!’ In retrospect, he realized he would

have gotten in big trouble if he’d said that aloud, as the proper way to describe it should have been,

‘That’s a big SHIP.’


Robert served during the Korean War, but never went to the Pacific. He was stationed in Pensacola,

FL on an aircraft carrier with a training command for young pilots learning to land on carriers,

mainly using the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, an American single-seat attack aircraft in service from 1946

to the early 1980’s, which served during the Korean and Vietnam Wars.


In the Korean War, Skyraiders were used to bomb bridges and dams. Robert was a Storekeeper, serving

onboard for five years distributing hammers, wrenches, and other tools used to keep the ship in good

repair. During this time, Robert moved up through the ranks from Seaman Apprentice to Seaman

First Class, then moving up to Petty Officer, finishing up as a Petty Officer First Class.

After Pensacola, Robert was part of the ComDesLant (Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic),

serving on destroyer escorts for the Atlantic fleet. During his years of service, Robert visited several

Caribbean ports of call, including Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Kingston, Jamaica; and Havana, Cuba, as well as travelling up and down the Atlantic coast.


At one point, he was stationed in London, England for a time, where he met

his wife, Beryl, when a friend invited him to Christmas dinner. It was love at first sight – he didn’t tell her at the time, but he thought, ‘I’m going to marry you, kid!’ They dated for a while, and his prediction came true—in

1954, they were married in London. Robert brought Beryl back to Detroit, then returned to his ship in

Newport, RI, and promptly left for Key West, FL. Beryl called him soon after and asked to join him

there. She did, living in an apartment while Robert lived on the ship. As a Petty Officer First Class,

he had freedom to come and go, so they were able to see each other frequently. Robert was 2 nd in

command at the time, and the Lieutenant of the carrier assigned him to carry the payroll out to their

fleet of four ships. Robert would travel from ship to ship, and climb up a Jacob’s ladder to board each

with his heavy weight of money in a satchel. He enjoyed that assignment a lot.


When Robert retired from the Navy, he and Beryl returned to Detroit, where he worked as a design

supervisor for General Motors for 43 years until retiring in 1990. After two months of retirement,

Beryl nudged him to ‘go find something to do.’ He went to the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield

Village and took a class in tin smithing. One day, he asked the teacher if he could work there, and

within a couple of days, Robert was their newest presenter, eventually becoming an expert tin smith.

He also learned to drive Model T’s, ran the grist mill and demonstrated in other areas as well. But,

when Beryl was diagnosed with cancer, Robert cut back his time at the Village, although he

maintained his job as a smith, as he enjoyed it very much, staying there until he was 92 years old,

when moving around was getting a little difficult.


Now in his second retirement, Robert is again enjoying time doing his hobbies, including drawing.

Over the years, he’s drawn many pictures, bookmarks, and a book. He’s made a Christmas tree out of

clothes pins, colonial drummers, a set of chessmen, and has built quite a few model ships. He’s even


built a Lego Hogwarts train with all the cars and the train station. If you’ve ever received a birthday

card from Robert, the envelope will probably be decorated with drawings of ships and lighthouses.

Robert and his family have been members of Rosedale since the early 70’s with Rev. Dr.

Dunkleburger. The family – Robert, Beryl, and their three children, were all baptized here. He has

fond memories of ushering with Bill Penn for many years.


We at the Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church would like to thank Robert for his service to our

country and for his many years of service and membership at Rosedale Gardens, for which we are

grateful. Robert Brown embodies a life of service to God and country, and we thank God for him and his family.