State Sen. Chedrick Greene, D-Saginaw, spoke to veterans and community members during a Veterans Day event at Central Michigan University on Tuesday. During his keynote address, Greene spoke about his own experience seeking leadership opportunities during and after his service in the Marines Corps.
“Having leadership is being impactful,” he said. “The only way to give that impact back is by being a steward of your community. Whatever that looks like, give back, participate. If we want to preserve our freedoms, we must put them into action.”
The state senator retired from duty as a Sergeant Major. Greene then served as a fire captain and community relations liaison for the Saginaw Fire Department.
"Veteran Day isn't just for veterans. It's a day for all Americans," Greene said. "It's a day to remember why they were fighting and a day for all of us to begin our journey to protecting our freedoms and the freedoms of our future generations."
Coordinator for CMU’s Veteran Services, Shane Taylor, spoke during the event about serving under Greene in the Marine Corps and how it influenced his work to assist other veterans.
“The leadership lessons I learned while serving under you have carried forward into the commitment to helping veterans successfully transition from military service to higher education and then into meaningful careers,” Taylor told Greene.
Other speakers included CMU student veteran Logan Hippensteel and CMU President Neil MacKinnon, who talked about his father’s service in the Canadian Armed Forces.
Both Veterans Day and Canada’s Remembrance Day honor veterans and commemorate the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.
“We know Michigan winters are cold, but he ended up serving eventually as a Canadian civilian working on a U.S. Air Force base all the way up in Labrador, which is near the Arctic Circle,” MacKinnon said. “We had some stories growing up about winters up there.”
Each speaker thanked veterans both in attendance or not in attendance for their service during the event.
“Thank you for your steadfast commitment to our nation and its people,” MacKinnon said. “Thank you for standing up for what is right in safeguarding our country from harm. Your sacrifices are seen, remembered, and will never be forgotten.”
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