ESCANABA/IRON MOUNTAIN — Students of the Bay College Civics Corps, in alliance with the Criminal Justice Association, will host their fourth-annual “Veterans Speak” webinar from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday.

Partnering with the club for the event are the American Legion Department of Michigan, American Merchant Marine Veterans, Veterans for All Voters and Waging Dialogue.

“Our partnerships with these veterans’ organizations help us to develop a robust, intergenerational panel with a variety of diverse experiences,” club member Lindsay Maloney said.

“Veterans Speak” is run as a webinar that includes speakers and guests from the U.S. Merchant Marine and different branches of the military. The veterans will share their experiences and discuss what serving our country has meant to them

“In previous years, the program has shown the ways in which the branches of the military and Merchant Marine have served together ‘in peace and war’ (Merchant Marine slogan),” student Alissa O’Driscoll said. “This year, we’ll highlight the club’s work to encourage future re-introduction of legislation to give Vietnam War-era merchant mariners their veterans’ status, as had been done for World War II merchant mariners back in 1988.”

Keynote speaker for “Veterans Speak 2025” will be Wendy Coble, a maritime historian and underwater archaeologist for the Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, or MARAD.

In addition to collecting and disseminating history about MARAD and its historical collection, Coble researches and protects its shipwrecks worldwide and reviews MARAD projects to ensure they do not affect historic resources. She has worked for the federal government for more than 25 years, in several capacities and agencies, including the Department of the Navy and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

“We’re excited to hear from Ms. Coble, who will emphasize the importance of service to the country,” club member Gabriel Viau said.

The public is invited to join in honoring the country’s veterans through this unique listening and storytelling event. For more information on how to access the webinar via Zoom, go to Bay College’s website and social media or email the club’s advisor, Dr. June Klees, at kleesj@baycollege.edu for the webinar link.