It was not the first Veterans Day observance attended by Kate and Peter Wikul, but it was their first in Leelanau County.
They were impressed. “It was great,” said Peter Wikul, who served as a Navy Seal for 38 years. “It was local, it was home town. I loved the fifth graders singing, the honor guard.”
Wikul, who before moving to Suttons Bay had himself been a speaker at veterans and Memorial Day ceremonies, was part of a standing-room only crowd that gathered at VFW Post 7731 on the 11th hour of the 11th of the 11th month of 2025.
Tuesday, the featured speaker chores fell to Suttons Bay resident Brett Kaufman, a commercial pilot who served 23 years in the Michigan Air National Guard. Kaufman spoke about the inspiration he drew from World War II bomber pilot Claude Porter, a lifelong county resident who spent a year in a concentration camp before being freed by advancing Russian troops and walking through battlefields to join American troops.
“I thought after learning about Claude, I can do this,” Kaufman recalled about learning that he was being called to active duty.
“I feel my time in an airplane paled in comparison to the guys on the ground. They were in peril every minute of every day … Fellow veterans, I’m honored to be here. I’m honored to say we gave of ourselves for a greater cause,” Kaufman continued.
The observance included its share of pomp and circumstance in a Leelanau County way. Upper elementary students from Leelanau Montessori led the pledge of allegiance and followed the lead of collegiate trained vocalist Lauren Cypher in singing “America the Beautiful.” St. Mary graduate Rachel Amalfitano performed the Star Spangled Banner.
The invocation was offered by Bob Alpi, vicar at Leland Immanuel Lutheran Church. The oldest of his three children has enlisted in the Army and is studying to become a combat medic.
Pam Kelly, wife of VFW service officer Gene Kelly, provided a stirring recount of her work as an equine therapist helping armed service members with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She spoke of a lifechanging moment when a veteran was nose-nuzzled by a horse, which caused her to fall sobbing. The mare backed up, went to the ground, and cradled her.
“Everyone in the barn was crying, including me,” Kelly said. “I have a lot of stories like that and it means a lot to me when people can find that connection.”
The VFW honor guard, as they have done at hundreds of funerals, provided a gun salute followed by the playing of Taps by cornetist Pete Ostrowski.
VFW Little Finger Post officers are Greg Mikowski, commander; Jeff LaCross,, vice commander; Al Chimoski, junior vice commander; Kelly LaCross, adjutant; Jim Kiessel, quartermaster; Jim Simon, chaplain; and service officer Kelly.
Simon and Kelly for several years have organized memorial and Veterans Day events. They announced at the conclusion that they would be stepping down from those roles. Mike Peter from Fife Lake, a Navy veteran who served on aircraft carriers, has transferred his membership to Post 7731 and will be assuming organizational responsibilities for future observances.
