The crowd at the 2019 Homeless Veterans Stand Down and Veterans Celebration at the Kenosha County Job Center.
PHOTOS: KENOSHA COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS

Kenosha County Veterans Celebration returns Saturday

Event being held in person for the first time since 2019

By KENOSHA COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS

Kenosha County is located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Its population in 2019 was estimated to be 169,561, making it the eighth most populous county in Wisconsin. The county is named after the county seat, Kenosha, the fourth largest city in Wisconsin.

The annual Kenosha County Veterans Celebration makes its return after a three-year hiatus this Saturday (Nov. 5), County Executive Samantha Kerkman announced.

This free community event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon in the commons area at the Kenosha County Job Center, 8600 Sheridan Road, Entrance D.

Attendees take a moment of silence during the 2019 event.
Major General James H. Mukoyama, U.S. Army retired, delivers the keynote speech during the 2019 event.

The festivities include a free breakfast sponsored by Piasecki Funeral Home and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7308, the honoring of a few local World War II veterans, informational vendors, free haircuts, and a performance by Navy Band Great Lakes.

“We’re excited to invite our veterans, their families, and other supporters out for this preVeterans Day celebration,” Kerkman said. “I invite the community to join me in honoring the service and sacrifice of those who have served our nation in the U.S. military.”

Kenosha County Veterans Services Director Ali Nelson noted it will be the first time this event has been held in-person since 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In place of the in-person event, video tributes to local veterans were produced in 2020 and 2021.

Nelson noted that Veterans Administration Health Care Center representatives will be at the event to answer questions and provide information about hazard benefits available to those who were exposed to water contamination at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, to agent orange during the Vietnam War, and to Gulf War burn pits.

“In addition to a delicious breakfast and great music from the Navy Band, there will be a lot of valuable information shared at this event,” Nelson said. “I encourage our veterans to come out to celebrate and learn about benefits that are available.”

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