R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press Veterans and guests participate in Monday’s Veterans Day ceremony in Escanaba, held at the Delta Chamber of Commerce building for the first time. A larger-than-expected turnout showed up to the event, which was organized by the Delta County Veterans Council, the Vet Center, and the Upper Peninsula Military Museum. (Escanaba Daily Press photo)

ESCANABA — Veterans Day ceremonies were held across the nation on Monday to honor and thank American military service members. The one organized by the Delta County Veterans Council, the Vet Center and the Upper Peninsula Military Museum took place at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month and featured Derek Gagne as its honored speaker.

The timing is tradition, but other elements were new in 2024.

As a change of pace this year, Escanaba’s ceremony was held at the Delta Chamber of Commerce building. The venue gave veterans an opportunity to visit the Upper Peninsula Military Museum, which is housed the same building at 1001 N. Lincoln Rd.

After an introduction during which Master of Ceremonies Craig Woerpel discussed the history of Armistice Day — first recognized on the anniversary of the conclusion of the first World War, and the name of which was officially changed to Veteran’s Day by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 — an invocation was delivered by Jay Krummich, chaplain of the Delta County Veterans Council.

Woerpel then acknowledged a table for one that had been set to “symbolize the fact that members of our armed forces are missing from our ranks,” he said solemnly, then pointed out the representational items on the table. It was dressed with a white cloth for pure intentions, a red rose for bloodshed, a slice of lemon for the bitter fate of POW/MIAs, salt for fallen tears, a candle for hope. A glass beside the plate was turned upside down — for the lost individuals cannot drink and dine with those left on Earth.

Following the national anthem, attention was called to members and representatives present from the Delta County Veterans Council, AMVETS Post 123, American Legion Post 82, American Legion Post 71, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2998, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 24, Marine Corps League Detachment 444, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1976, Sons of American Legion Squadron 71, Escanaba Vet Center, and special guests.

Derek Gagne, member of the Hannahville community, served in the U.S. Army Operation Freedom in 2004 and was wounded twice. He received two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star Medal, and an Army Commendation Medal. Gagne spoke of his inspiration to join the military and of his accomplishments, plus how he’s come to find activities he enjoys after losing his leg. He races cars, plays basketball, and rides a Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was gifted to him by Hogs for Heroes.

When in Iraq, Gagne learned that girls there were not able to attend school beyond about the sixth or seventh grade.

“We started instituting schools … so they could go to 10th and then eventually 12th grade, and now they can go abroad to college, which took a long time,” Gagne said. He said that after seeing that the Iraqi children enjoyed soccer, the American soldiers also began organizing soccer tournaments for them, doing something positive for the kids while completing their missions.

The final speaker was Steve Kwarciany, commander of the Delta County Veterans Council, who entered the U.S. Air Force in 1993 as a fighter aircraft mechanic and retired in 2015 at the rank of master sergeant. He served in a number of operations during those years and now holds positions in multiple local veterans organizations. Kwarciany thanked all veterans for their service and for providing inspiration to younger generations.

A group of students from the Escanaba Area Public Schools Indian Education Program, taught by Woerpel and Skip Blanc, played and sang in a drum circle to honor the Native American individuals like Gagne who have served.

A wall within the Upper Peninsula Military Museum is dedicated specifically to the Native Americans of the U.S. Armed Forces who came from the U.P.

All at Monday’s ceremony were invited to visit the museum after the luncheon, which was sponsored by the Island Resort and Casino and other community donors.