Houghton County Veteran Service Office

06/12/2026

DONT MISS VETFEST!!!! OPEN TO ALL VETERANS!!!!
This Wednesday from 11am to 2pm.

ON-THE-SPOT VA Healthcare Enrollments with Toxic Exposure Screenings

Free Pasty from the East Fork Pasty Company and Free Refreshements

Free $20.00 Gas Card to the first 500 Veterans

Free T-Shirt

Lifetime National Park Passes

Michigan Secretary of State Mobile Office

Representatives from the Detroit VA Regional Office

Veteran Service Officers from Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga Counties and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

Free Raffle Prizes including two Vacations

06/11/2026

❤️🤍💙We are feeling incredibly thankful today!!!And want to give a huge THANK YOU! to our local community businesses! ❤️🤍💙
Many have generously donated to our Veteran Prize Giveaways for our event VetFest-June 17th from 11:00-2:00 at MTU Student Development Complex
If you’d like to join in & support please reach out 🇺🇸.
(This photo is just a few of the items)

06/10/2026

Check this Out! Local Author and Veteran John Gagnon recently released a book about local Veterans! John will have a table at VetFest next Wednesday for anyone interested in purchasing a copy.

For those not attending VetFest, you can purchase a copy here: https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/Old-Northland-Warriors/

06/01/2026

Liberty Dogs is a national Service Dog training and placement program for U.S. military Veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).

The program is scheduled to start this summer. To be eligible, applicants should be U.S. Veterans with a VA-diagnosed service-connected post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD) condition. The screening process involves background checks, coordination with mental health providers, and an in-person skills assessment.

For more information and to submit a request to be notified when applications are open, go to: https://www.libertydogs.org/

05/29/2026

CHECK THIS OUT! The Armed Forces Vacation Club will have TWO drawings for Resort Vacation Certificates that can be used at destinations in EUROPE, the CARIBEAN, and in the U.S.! Veterans can register for the drawing ONLY at VetFest on June 17th at the MTU SDC in Houghton, Michigan. Winners will be drawn and announced on June 18th!

Just ANOTHER reason to attend VetFest....free $20 gas card for the first 500 Veterans, free T-Shirt (one per Veteran/Family), free Meal (everyone), door prize/raffles, and over 80 Veteran Service Providers with information on Veteran Benefits. ALL Veterans, Family Members, and Caregivers are welcome!!!!!!

Share this with everyone that might know a Veteran who could benefit from this event.

AFVC offers active and retired military exclusive travel savings on resorts, car rentals & more. Free membership is one small way we thank you for your service.

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/index.asp

DID YOU KNOW? The VA helps Veterans, Servicemembers, and eligible surviving spouses become homeowners. As part of their mission to serve you, they provide a home loan guaranty benefit and other housing-related programs to help you buy, build, repair, retain, or adapt a home for your own personal occupancy.

VA Home Loans are provided by private lenders, such as banks and mortgage companies. VA guarantees a portion of the loan, enabling the lender to provide you with more favorable terms.

Main Pillars of the VA Home Loan Benefit:

o No downpayment required
(*Note: Lenders may require downpayments for some borrowers using the VA home loan guaranty, but VA does not require a downpayment)
o Competitively low interest rates
o Limited closing costs
o No need for Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)
o The VA home loan is a lifetime benefit: you can use the guaranty multiple times

AND if you are a Veteran and either you or your spouse is Native American, the VA has the Native American Direct Loan (NADL) program that can help you get a loan to buy, build, or improve a home on federal trust land. For more information go to https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/loan-types/native-american-direct-loan/

Apply for and manage the VA benefits and services you’ve earned as a Veteran, Servicemember, or family member—like health care, disability, education, and more.

05/21/2026

Memorial Day, a federal holiday held the last Monday in May, is the nation's foremost annual day to mourn and honor its deceased service men and women.

Originally called Decoration Day, it was formalized by a "Memorial Day Order" issued by Grand Army of the Republic Commander-in-Chief John A. Logan in 1868.

The modern proclamation calls on Americans "to observe Memorial Day by praying, according to their individual religious faith, for permanent peace."

https://www.cem.va.gov/history/Memorial-Day-history.asp

There are many Memorial Day ceremonies throughout the Copper Country. See this list for information on the ceremonies near you. Let us know if there are corrections or additions.

05/15/2026

VETFEST!! VETFEST!! VETFEST!!

Did you know: The Michigan Secretary of State Mobile Office will be at VetFest again this year! Attendees can take care of just about any SoS transactions you may have, so take advantage of this special opportunity!

05/14/2026

Check this out! The Houghton High School Alumni Association is honoring Veterans this Saturday!