For most, Veterans Day means flags, ceremonies, and the words “thank you for your service.” But for those who have worn the uniform, it is also a time to reflect–not just on sacrifice, but on what it means to keep serving long after coming home.

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Mark Dragovich, a Navy Veteran currently enrolled at NMC, explained that after leaving the service due to an injury, he struggled to adjust to civilian life. 

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“When you’re used to being told what to do all day, it’s hard to suddenly make your own decisions,” he said, “But veterans are a disciplined group–we just need support and community.”

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He found both through NMC, where he now leads the Student Veterans of America chapter. On Nov. 11, NMC hosted a Veterans Day ceremony on Front Street Campus to honor staff, student, and community veterans.

 

Seven other student veterans are concurrently enrolled with both NMC and Grand Valley State University.

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Justina Hlavka–an Air Force veteran, and the director and photographer with Mid-Michigan Honor Flight–echoes that same belief in connection. 

“Veterans Day isn’t just a day for thanks,” she said, “It’s a day of recognition.”

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Hlavka described how difficult the transition to civilian life can be. “When you leave the military, you realize how much of your identity and purpose are still tied to service.” She stated that it was hard for a lot of veterans to “lose that camaraderie.”

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Her work with Honor Flight–an organization that flies veterans, many of them serving in Vietnam and a few serving in World War II, to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built in their honor–helps fill the void. “You see grown men cry when they touch the wall,” she said, referring to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “For a lot of them, it’s closure. They finally get the welcome home they never received.”

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Both Hlavka and Dragovich said Traverse City’s compassion for veterans is visible and sincere. From student support programs to volunteer groups and local ceremonies, they see a community trying to honor its veterans not just in words, but in action.

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Dragovich reflected on what Veterans Day means to him. “It’s important because veterans get recognized for their service,” he said. “Without them, we wouldn’t be the free and open society we are today.” He shared one small phrase that stuck with him: “Whenever someone says, ‘Thank you for your service,’ I respond with, ‘You’re worth it.’” He added, “That’s why we serve–so people can live free.

 

”He clarified that this freedom means more than comfort: “It means caring enough to understand.”

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The common ways a town shows gratitude toward these veterans are through a parade, a flag, or a discount at a restaurant. While that’s a great gesture, Dragovich and Hlavka both emphasized that veterans’ needs go far beyond public displays.

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“When resources get tight, it affects veterans–especially those dealing with mental health issues, food insecurity, or housing problems,” Dragovich said.

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Hlavka shared a personal example of how easily veterans can miss out on benefits simply because they’re not told about them. “When I was pregnant, I didn’t know [Veteran’s Affairs] would cover my whole pregnancy,” she said. “My nurse was the one who told me, and I was shocked. There’s so much veterans don’t know they’re eligible for.”

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She also spoke about the emotional toll that often lingers long after service. “One Vietnam vet pulled me aside during an Honor Flight dinner and said, ‘I have to live with it for the rest of my life.’” Her voice softened as she said, “That kind of pain doesn’t just disappear because someone says thank you.”

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Local organizations like Michigan Works and Charlie Golf One help connect veterans to jobs and housing resources, while NMC’s programs provide academic and community support. Both emphasize the importance of these resources and support systems and encourage others to participate.

“Start small,” Hlavka added, “Volunteer with Honor Flight, attend a ceremony, or just ask a veteran about their story. We always need people to hold flags or write letters, and those little things matter.”

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Both Hlavka and Dragovich said that they hope recognition becomes something continuous–embedded in daily life, not just observed on one day in November. Because for veterans, their service didn’t end when they took off their uniforms. It simply evolved.

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As a photographer and director, Hlavka witnesses how the trips transform veterans. “It brings back everything positive about their service and as little negative as possible,” she said. She recalled one letter from a participant’s wife that still moves her: “Thank you for giving me my husband back. He’s the man now that he was before he left for Vietnam. I haven’t seen that man in 50 years.”

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For both veterans, gratitude is best expressed through community action. Dragovich thanked NMC and the broader Traverse City community for making veterans feel included. “Thank you for the support you’ve given me and other veterans who’ve come back to school,” he said. “It means a lot to feel like we matter here.”

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Hlavka’s message was broader and deeply human. “We need to drop the red and blue labels and remember we’re all American,” she said. “Compassion goes a long way.”

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As Traverse City wraps up its Veterans Day ceremonies and classroom discussions, both Hlavka and Dragovich offer the same advice in different words: listen, ask questions, show up, and turn gratitude into something real. 

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Dragovich’s quiet phrase–“you’re worth it”–carries that spirit. It’s a small reminder that honoring veterans means more than a thank-you; it means answering their service with action.

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The print version of this story misreported that Mark Dragovich is the only student veteran currently enrolled at NMC. In fact, seven other student veterans are concurrently enrolled with both NMC and Grand Valley State University. We regret the error.