Patriot’s Day 2014 was a special day for Veterans in Detroit, Michigan. A beautiful new park was dedicated at Piquette Square, one of Cinnaire’s housing and support-services development serving formerly homeless Veterans.
The new park represents yet another investment in Detroit Veterans, and allows the residents of Piquette to better enjoy the site’s limited green space — as the development is situated in the heart of old-Industrial Detroit, where Ford’s first Model T car rolled off the line.
Just before the park dedication a VIP event was held to honor two special Veterans, who were recognized for turning the dream of Piquette Square into the reality that it is today. Click here to view photos from the tribute presentation and new park at Piquette Square.
Gene Kuthy, Board member for Southwest Solutions, and Dennis Quinn, Senior Vice President at Cinnaire, are both military Veterans who have dedicated their civilian lives to revitalizing communities and ensuring all people have access to a quality, safe place to live.
Dennis Quinn was drafted into the U.S. Army for eight years, from May 1971 to May 1979. Dennis was a combat infantryman in the Viet Nam War. While in Viet Nam, he served with the 101st Airborne Division and the 1st Cavalry Division. Following Viet Nam, Dennis served as a Training NCO in Western Europe, serving in the Third Armored Division. In the U.S., he served with Forces Command at Fort Lewis, Washington, as Senior NCO in charge of planning and training. Dennis is the recipient of the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Bronze Star Medal, two Awards of the Army Commendation Medal and the Viet Nam Cross of Gallantry. His rank up discharge was Staff Sergeant (E-6).
Dennis has been with Cinnaire for ten years, and prior to that was Executive Director for Southwest Housing Corporation in Detroit. Among Dennis’ accomplishments in community development, he has successfully led Cinnaire’s origination and development efforts on four different housing and support service developments that serve formerly homeless Veterans (and working on a fifth).
Gene served as a U.S. Naval Reserve Captain for 34 years. During his civilian career, Gene made multiple contributions to fair banking and housing, community revitalization, affordable housing, and community development to help low-income individuals have safe and permanent housing options. Gene served as a Board member for Southwest Solutions and several other housing nonprofits in southwest Detroit, his birthplace and childhood neighborhood. Gene is retiring from the Board after a period of long and distinguished service at Southwest Solutions.
The new park at Piquette Square pays tribute to both Kuthy and Quinn with an engraved brick marker by the Army flagpole for Dennis and the Navy flagpole for Gene.