Veterans Day in Chelsea was a two-day commemoration for all who served this year.
On Nov. 11 at Veterans Park, the event honored all veterans – with posting and retiring of colors from the Herbert J. McKune American Legion Post 31 and a panel discussion that included military experiences from five local veterans: Rodney Gasaway, Doug Collins, Chris Bluteau, Zach Schneider , and Zachary Karshnick.
On Nov. 12, new this year was a community pancake breakfast at Collins Off Main.
Mayor Jane Pacheco said both events were well attended thanks to “a whole host of volunteers.” Support for the events came from across the community – from volunteers and local businesses to organizations.
Plus, Michigan’s fickle weather cooperated for the festivities as well.
On Veterans Day, Pacheco said, about 75 people attended the panel discussion at Veterans Park, which was held under a tent set up by the city’s Department of Public Works with side panels and a heater in the event there was the Mitten State’s typical cold, wet and windy November weather.
New this year were light refreshments, Pacheco said, coffee was provided by Biggby Coffee and cookie trays from Silver Maples of Chelsea.
The Saturday pancake breakfast attracted about 80 community members for the buffet-style meal with the pancake mix provided by Jiffy Milling Company.
There was apple cider from Agricole Farm Stop, coffee from Zou Zou’s Cafe, fruit salad from Chelsea Uptown Coney Island. The stars of the event, the pancakes, were cooked ahead of time by several volunteers working at the Chelsea First United Methodist Church (CFUMC) kitchen and brought to Collins off Main for a buffet-style meal. The CFUMC Material Girls made the patriotic table centerpieces for the event and Chelsea District Library hosted crafts for the kids.
The Chelsea Senior Center offered anyone who wanted it, free transportation to the ceremony at Veterans Park after a special luncheon that took place there before the commemoration ceremony.
The two-day event took about a year to plan, Pacheco said, with the Chelsea District Library serving as a meeting location for community volunteers to come together to brain-storm this year’s expanded event and meeting a handful of times over the year.
So many folks enjoyed the breakfast, the hope is to continue with the tradition next year. Pacheco hopes that there will be even more volunteer participation from folks in the community including the surrounding townships. She is also seeking a chairperson to begin 2023 planning process so please contact her at [email protected] if you are interested in getting involved.
