PORTAGE, Mich. — Sunday, we celebrate our veterans at the Veterans Family Fun Day at Airway Fun Center.
However, it's more than a Sunday fun day for retired Army veteran Megan Malz.
Malz served in Iraq from 2008 to 2009 and served in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012.
While serving in Iraq, she worked in an Iraqi prison; in Afghanistan, she was a part of the female engagement team and deployed with the infantry.
“After 9/11, I just graduated high school, and was looking for some more purpose in life, and the Army's where I found it," Malz explained.
Now that she's a mom, her duties have changed, but the mission remains the same.
“I want [my daughter] to see that women are capable of being able to serve their country and do meaningful things," says Maltz.
That sense of duty is what drove Charles Jackson to serve in Germany from 1980 to 1983 as a cannon fire direction specialist.
"My expectancy of life was like 45 seconds,” the Army veteran said— underlining the dangers of the job. “I felt that it was it was my thing to do, to serve my country.”
Everyone at the Veterans Family Fun Day has a similar story of personal sacrifice.
“Our aim is to make sure that we are serving veterans with care and compassion and candor,” Lauren King, supervisor of the Kalamazoo County Veterans Service Office told FOX 17.
King made sure these veterans were seen on Sunday.
"The more veterans know that there are resources out there for them, the better," she said.
Lauren tells me that after surveying their veterans, results indicated that social events were lacking.
“When a grant opportunity became available with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency, we did decide to utilize some of those funds to throw this event,” King said.
For Malz's daughter, Addy, today was a chance to tell her mom why she loves her.
“I love that she's strong, nice and she helps me out with the stuff,” Addy said.
“It gives us such a great opportunity to spend time together — and in a very stress-free environment.” Matz remarked.
The Kalamazoo County Veterans Service Office is putting on its next event, Veterans Stand Down, on Sept. 13.
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