Veterans Enjoy the Company of Fellow Servicemen and Women During Veteran’s Day Events in the Copper Country

Veterans Day over the weekend offered chances for veterans to get out in the community. Friday included Veterans Day ceremonies with local area schools. Followed by Saturday when veterans could join together at community meals and activities. Down in Hubbell, the VFW Post 4624 enjoyed intimate meals among post members and veterans looking for delicious comfort food, from Shannon’s home cooking. Veterans were served by the Michigan Tech University’s Air Force ROTC detachment 400.

For many years post 4624 has had a special relationship with the detachment. In recent years the AFROTC has organized its POW MIA 5k race in benefit of the VFW post. As well as working with veterans at the post on building upgrades, or to volunteer in the community.

After the dinner, AFROTC Detachment Commander Loueitent Colonel Benjamin Zuniga was invited as the evening’s guest speaker.

“And we also don’t forget our military families. Our spouses, and our children, sacrifice even more when our men and women are called away. When our military members deploy abroad, they leave behind their friends and their families. Who in their absence fight on. Life is normal. Even though we know life is far from normal back home.” Lt. Col. Benjamin Zuniga, Detachment Commander, MTU AFROTC Det. 400

After a brief speech sharing an update on Air Force ROTC, Zuniga was honored by the VFW post with a copy of AFROTC graduate Lily Bolinger’s poem Copper County Women she shared during the 2023 winter carnival. And was gifted a copper engraving commemorating the dinner and Zuniga’s guest of honor seat with VFW Post 4624.