Houghton High School JROTC honors the Copper Country’s veterans during annual Veterans’ Day Ceremony

In a region with one of the country’s highest concentrations of military veterans in communities, veteran’s Day has a lot of activity. Around the Copper Country, several schools held Veteran’s Day ceremonies that invited veterans to join students and faculty.

Houghton High School’s JROTC program led the school’s annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony. The Community filled the high school’s gymnasium with veterans, proud parents, and students from the Houghton Portage Township School district. This year the program’s students invited Marine Corps veteran and National Guardsman Rick Freeman Jr. to share his military experience with students during the ceremony.

And so they today I think did a fantastic job. It’s a lot of pressure. This is by far the biggest event that we put on for the year. The whole Houghton high school student body and all these community members are here to watch them. And I think they did a great job. And it’s tremendous to see them interacting with all the veterans in the audience, who I do think appreciate this being put on for them. – Ret. Col. Dylan Carlson, JROTC Senior Army Instructor

JROTC Senior Army Instructor retired Colonel Dylan Carlson says about one-fifth of the program’s students go on to explore a career in the military. Junior ROTC programs promote citizenship and civic participation among young people. Those interested in learning more about JROTC programs in the copper country can find more information here. Check out some photos from the ceremony at Houghton High School below.