ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – This year marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. In recognition, the Escanaba Vet Center is hosting an open house next week.
On Wednesday, March 26, the Vet Center will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to noon, with refreshments provided until 10 a.m. Veterans and community members are invited to tour the facility.
The Vet Center is filled with posters, informational displays, and memorabilia from various wars. According to Veteran Outreach Program Specialist Adam Hongisto, the open house will be an opportunity to learn more about the Vietnam War and the sacrifices veterans made.
“Our Vietnam veterans weren’t given a great welcome home when they first came home, so this our way of giving them a long overdue ‘welcome home’ and ‘thank you for your service,'” Hongisto said. “We don’t just have Vietnam War posters up; we also have stuff from World War II, Afghanistan, Iraq, Desert Storm. It should be a learning experience all around.”
Attendees will also be able to find information on services available through the Vet Center.
“We do readjustment counseling for veterans and their families,” said Hongisto. “We can see active duty military, guard and reserve, veterans with combat deployments, anyone who suffered military sexual trauma. Anyone is more than welcome to come check out what we do here.”
The Escanaba Vet Center is located at 301 North 30th Street, in the former Peninsula Federal Credit Union building. For more information on the Vet Center, click here or call (906) 233-0244 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
