This week’s bouquets go to —

From the Delta County Veterans Council, the U.P. Military Museum and the Steam & Gas Engine Association:

The U. P. Military Museum, the Delta County Veterans Council, and the Steam & Gas Engine Association want to thank local businesses for their help to make the Veterans Day gathering special for our veterans.

Thank you to the Island Resort & Casino for the generous support for the bakery items from Elmer’s. Additional generous donations were received from the Peninsula Federal Credit Union, Thrivent Financial Action Team Grants, Escanaba Rotary Club, the Delta County Veterans Council, the Vet Center, Nu-Way Laundry and Rentals, Bink’s, Dollar Tree, Walmart, Gordon Foods and Elmer’s Market. All these donations helped to produce an event where the veterans could feel valued, and for that we are sincerely grateful. We appreciate your donation more than just a “Thank You” can express. You will forever be in our hearts and prayers for making such meaningful contributions.

A big thank you also goes out to the numerous volunteers who so generously donated their time for set-up on Monday and staffing the event on Tuesday. From greeters at the door, to food prep helpers, to coffee pourers, to those visiting with the veterans — we are grateful for your commitment to the veteran community. We offer a huge thank you to the dedicated members of the Bay de Noc Unitarian Universalists who were there to help from early morning to the final clean up at the end of the event. Chi Miigwech (thank you) to the young men of the Escanaba Indian Education Drum who, along with their leaders and teachers, Craig Woerpel and Skip Blanc, sang a beautiful honor song for all the veterans, including one special song for the women veterans.

Thank you also to the keynote speaker Kendal Kettle — a retired U.S. Army major who spoke about service, family, sacrifice, the transition from military to civilian life and the importance of veterans’ organizations and community that help to support veterans access various resources. She also offered a heartfelt and inspirational story about the life experiences that occurred during her mother’s military service to the country. Thank you to both strong and dedicated women for their service to our country.

And, the biggest thank you goes to all the veterans themselves who attended and who brought other veterans with them to celebrate and acknowledge the day. It warmed our hearts that we could join together to honor and offer respect and care to all the veterans present and also to those who were unable to attend. They were not forgotten but were in our hearts.

Thank you all for your kindness and generosity — with your help, this event was a huge success, and it could not have been accomplished without you!

———

Bouquets run when available in Saturday’s Daily Press, and provide the public with a forum to praise or thank people or activities in the area. Bouquets can be emailed to news@dailypress.net.