Vets Honored in Lakeland High, Township Cemetery Programs

Programs at Lakeland High School and White Lake Cemetery this week honored White Lake area veterans for Veterans Day.

Lakeland High School honors veterans

Taps played while tears flowed and thunderous applause for local veterans rang through the auditorium Wednesday at s Veterans Day ceremony.

Jenna Mickle, junior at Lakeland, proudly brought her grandfather, Jerry Heykoop, to be honored. He served in the Korean War.

"He really liked it," Mickle said. "He's probably my biggest hero in life and I really look up to him. It was really cool to see all the students appreciate the veterans and shake their hands."

About 600 students and faculty gathered at the event, started four years ago by Joe Salvia, a local veteran,  and Brian Howe, government teacher at Lakeland High School. Salvia pitched the idea as a means to get kids involved with veterans and Howe signed on to coordinate the event.

"It's about the interaction with the students. I think it's important for them to give back to our veterans who made our country what it is and to tell them 'thanks,' " Howe said. "A lot of veterans have never been told 'thank you' and it's important to recognize them."

Thanks to the efforts of Howe and the 50 students who assisted him, the ceremony ran smoothly.

"I have to give (Howe) and his students credit," Lakeland Principal Bob Behnke said.

Behnke was particularly impressed by the momentum and community involvement the event has gained over the past four years. "I'm a member of the Huron Valley Optimist Club and this year, they provided refreshments and drinks at the reception for the veterans before and after the ceremony," he said. "That was a unique aspect of the ceremony this year and it's nice for the community to be more aware."

The program commenced with coffee and donuts, then the veterans lined up in a flag-filled parade to the auditorium, where they were greeted by the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. The veterans were then introduced and honored individually.

"Some of the vets on stage are relatives of students," Howe said. "Some are from the American Legion Hall in Milford, some are from the Highland Senior Center and some are from the Huron Valley Optimist Club. One of our teachers, Marc Pouliot, brought his father and father-in-law."

Lakeland senior  Leighton Christie, who is going into the U.S. Marine Corps, was also among those recognized. "He had no idea we would be honoring him," Howe said.

Students were then invited to shake hands with all the veterans. Students and veterans were brought to tears by the impact of the event.

"That's where the ceremony finally hits home with the kids. They realize that these are real people who served their country." Howe said. "This should be all the time, not just once a year. Every day should be Veterans Day."

White Lake honors military veterans at local cemetery

An estimated 100 people attended the township Veterans Day ceremony at White Lake Cemetery on Thursday.

More than 30 veterans were honored during the event, including Cpl. John Snow from Highland Township who was decked out in his original World War II uniform. Snow fought for Gen. Patton's 3rd Army in Europe.

"I will tell you the best advice Patton gave me," Snow said. "He told me I don't want you to die for your country, you make the other (SOB) die for his."

The Veterans Day event continues to grow each year, said Lynn O'Brien, the White Lake Township employee who coordinates the event. "Today was really such a beautiful day," she said. "This is our 15th year putting on this ceremony. When we first started, only eight people were attendence. Now we have than 100."

The choir sang America the Beautiful and student Blake Armstrong from Waterford Kettering High School played Taps.