LANSING, Mich. (WSYM) - The City of Lansing and the Metro Lansing Veterans Commission made sure the Veterans Day holiday wasn't forgotten.
A ceremony was held inside Lansing Catholic’s High School auditorium to pay tribute to the US Armed Forces.
The ceremony kicked off at 10:30 a.m., breakfast was held before at 8 a.m.
Douglas Szczepanski Jr., an Iraq War Purple Heart Recipient, Inspirational Speaker and Minister with the non-profit organization, Miracle Soldier Inc., was the ceremony’s keynote speaker.
Szczepanski Jr. is from Mid-Michigan who joined the Michigan National Guard in 2001 as a Field Artilleryman as a senior in high school, the same year of the September 11th terrorist attacks.
His Army National Guard unit was deployed as C182 Military Police (SECFOR) unit in Oct 2004.
In January 2005, after being sent to Baghdad, Iraq and serving as his Company Commander's gunner he was severely wounded on the day of September 15th, 2005 by a suicide car bomber.
"My whole goal is to share my story so that if someone else is going through this, they know there's hope, they can get it through, they can make it through and they can make it through stronger,” said Szczepanski Jr. “I had to rebuild my identity after I got blown up, it took me many years, but god has blessed me, and I’m here now."
Saturday marks the eighth consecutive year that the event has been recognized as a regional site location by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
The ceremony featured Color Guard, musical performances by the Lansing Catholic Choir, Lansing Eastern High School Band, Glen Erin Pipe Band and vocalist Mary Black Junttonen.
Also Saturday, the 8th annual Veterans Day parade was held in Downtown Mason.
The parade started at 3 p.m, and included veterans from World War II to present, bands, historical vehicles, and chartered veterans support organizations.
Following the parade, the public was also invited to an open house at the VFW post 7309.
