Jace Dunlap

Editor-In-Chief

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NMC hosted their annual Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11. The ceremony was held outside in between the Osterlin and Tanis buildings. 

 

Mark Dragovich, a Navy Veteran and head of the Student Veterans of America chapter at NMC gave his opening remarks to the crowd. He introduced the Traverse City Central High School band who performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” after the speeches. Dragovich remarked how great NMC is for veterans, encouraging veterans in the crowd to get involved with the local chapter. 

 

Todd Neibauer VP of Student Services and Technologies was in attendance, along with his father Commander Jim Neibaur who is a retired Navy Veteran and served in the Vietnam war. The father and son took turns reflecting on Jim’s service. Neibaur told the crowd stories of growing up with a father who was a veteran. Students at his school didn’t believe him, and he highlighted the importance of continued support for Veterans. “I think sometimes when you have such a small population that has had exposure to veterans, we don’t always know what they may go through… It's right to have a day like today to honor them and raise awareness of the duty and sacrifice they have offered to the country,” said Neibaur. 

 

Jim took to the microphone after his son to share information on the history of Veterans Day. Beginning with its establishment after WWⅠ in 1918. The holiday was originally named Armistice Day, but was later renamed Veterans Day in 1954 under the Eisenhower administration. 

 

During his service, Jim was involved in major operations with NATO in the Atlantic Ocean. While serving in the Vietnam War he was stationed in the Philippines, and worked throughout the South China Sea. 

 

Jim concluded the speaking part of the ceremony by saying “It is always fitting to honor both living and dead veterans because this country [is what they] lived for, and fought for, and died for.”

 

The ceremony concluded with a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Traverse City Central High School’s band.