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Miracle Soldier Szczepanski Welcomed to Annual Veterans Day Breakfast Nov. 11

Douglas SzczepanskiDouglas Szczepanski

A tradition of paying tribute to military veterans at Ferris State University and in the Big Rapids community continues on Monday, Nov. 11, at the Veterans Day breakfast. The annual event begins at 8 a.m. and will be hosted in the University Center ballroom.

Assistant Director of Veterans Services Jacob Schrot said the university hopes students, faculty and staff who currently serve in the National Guard or similar programs, and veterans on campus and the greater community will accept an invitation to attend and participate in the event.

“The President’s Office collaborates with our staff to support the breakfast, and we are glad President David Eisler makes a point to join us,” Schrot said. “We are glad to have retired Army Sergeant Douglas Szczepanski, the ‘Miracle Soldier,’ as a special guest and keynote speaker that morning.”

Szczepanski, a Bay City native, was with the Michigan Army National Guard in September 2005, when he suffered critical injuries while on patrol in Baghdad, Iraq. The Purple Heart recipient is now the CEO, founder and president of Miracle Soldier, Inc., an evangelical ministry with special emphasis in veteran’s outreach.

“I am looking forward to meeting Sgt. Szczepanski, having seen him deliver powerful messages in videos that are available online,” Schrot said. “We looked into his career and continued service, with full belief our campus audience and community guests will hear an important and heartfelt address that morning. We encourage our guests and others to check his website, miraclesoldier.org for more information.”

Anyone with a disability who would require an accommodation to participate in this event is asked to contact Schrot at (231) 591-2022 or email at least 72 hours in advance.