It’s Veteran’s Day, a day that marks the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918. The Blue Water area has a tradition of offering many opportunities to thank our veterans including free haircuts at places like Shear Karma Salon in Port Huron and free and discounted meals at many local restaurants like Daybreak Cafe and Golden Corral in Fort Gratiot. Port Huron Area School District’s Fort Gratiot Middle School has an annual event that draws a crowd every year. Veterans and those who are on current, active duty are invited to attend and be honored for their service. Andrea Goossens, a counselor at Fort Gratiot Middle School, says that the school also has a “Wall of Honor” for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Ms. Goossens said she is proud to be a part of the event that has been held for over a decade. The eighth-graders at the school are invited to this somber event and the intent is to foster an understanding of the sacrifices that military members and their families make every day. Last year, the students welcomed a few World War II veterans in attendance, including Douglas Stafford of the U.S. Army, who passed away just two weeks after the event at the age of 92. The assembly was his last public event before passing.
