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Events planned to honor local veterans Thursday and Friday

Cheboygan Daily Tribune - 11/13/2021

Nov. 10—Editor's Note: The drive-thru parade at Cheboygan Area Schools takes place on Friday. This story has been updated with the correct information.

CHEBOYGAN — Several events have been planned this week around the City of Cheboygan to honor those who have served the United States in the American Armed Forces.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional events — such as the large gathering at Bishop Baraga Catholic School and Cheboygan High School — have either been drastically scaled down and closed to the public, or have been canceled altogether.

Cheboygan Area Schools will be hosting a drive-thru parade Friday morning, where students will stand outside of the building and show their gratitude to local veterans from around the county as they drive through the school's parking lot.

"Line up will be at the trailhead on Western Avenue by 9 a.m. for the parade," said Cheboygan County Veterans Services Director Sara Cunningham. "The parade will begin around 9:05-9:10 a.m."

Last year, this event was done for the first time and students from the entire school district held up signs and artwork thanking the veterans for their service, as the veterans drove through the parking lot.

A small group of local veterans will also be attending small ceremonies at Cornerstone Christian School at 8:30 a.m. and Bishop Baraga Catholic School at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Veterans Day. These ceremonies are not open to the public due to the ongoing pandemic.

From 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, the Cheboygan Kiwanis Club will be hosting a drive-thru veterans appreciation dinner at the Cheboygan Knights of Columbus Hall, 9840 N. Straits Hwy.

In the past, this event has been hosted by the Kiwanis Club inside the Knights of Columbus Hall. However, to keep everyone as safe as possible, the event has been modified to a drive-thru dinner.

"Manzana's of Onaway will be catering the dinner," said Toni Brown of the Cheboygan Kiwanis Club. "It will consist of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese. There will also be containers of coleslaw and cranberries, and rolls and cake."

Brown said the hosts of the event — including the Cheboygan Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, the Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 95, VFW Post 3623, the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 274 and the Associates of the Vietnam Veterans of America — want this event to be as successful as possible to honor the veterans.

"But not putting them in harm's way by being in a closed area where social distancing might be impossible," she said. "Hopefully maybe next year will be back to normal, where we can gather together with family and friends to thank our veterans."

The meals will be free for the veterans from Cheboygan County. They can also receive a meal for their spouse or companion for a $5 charge. The Kiwanis Club requests this be kept to just one other person per veteran.

"The students of the Cheboygan Schools will be doing thank you cards for the veterans and the programs that will be with the dinners," said Brown. "There will be information in programs about donations toward the Veterans Memorial Park, plus information on purchasing a memorial brick for the park."

The Kiwanis Club of Cheboygan will also be delivering meals to veterans at several different locations around the county, including Pinecrest Village in Mackinaw City, The Brooks, Meadow Lodge, Hancock Haven and McLaren Northern Michigan Hospice House.

"A special thanks also goes to the Cheboygan County Sheriff's Department and the Inverness Fire Department for their help with traffic, and David Lord of State Farm for his contribution to the program," said Brown.

Contact Features Writer Kortny Hahn at khahn1@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @khahnCDT.

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