Honoring Veterans in Northern Utah

When Felt Auto Parts President Steve Hoellein was asked to share his experience about serving in Vietnam, he responded with shyness and humility. He did not believe his story to be remarkable, but with some coaxing revealed that he received a Purple Heart for being wounded in combat while taking actions that surely saved others. That bullet may have ultimately saved Steve’s life, and he returned home. He retired his uniform to the back of his closet and did not talk about his experiences there. Those were not days when returning Veterans were honored. This year on Veteran’s Day in Northern Utah, each of us have opportunities to change that. This article outlines ways we can show our support for veterans and those currently serving.

Opportunities to hire a Veteran:

  • Work Opportunity Tax Credit: https://doleta.gov/business/incentives/opptax/eligible.cfm
  • Utah Patriot Partnership: https://jobs.utah.gov/employer/business/patriotpledge.html
  • The LVER- or local veteran employment representative is an individual that reaches out to employers and attempts to develop job opportunities for veterans with employers.  The LVER at this time is William Greer: wgreer@utah.gov.  William also discusses with employers the benefits of hiring veterans including the tax credits (WOTC) for hiring veterans and provides information about the Utah Patriot Partnership.  William also sends out hiring notices to registered veteran job seekers.

Interview a veteran or tell your own story:

If you are a veteran or have one in your life, check out the Veteran History Project through the Library of Congress. One of the best ways to honor veterans is to record their stories. The Library of Congress accepts original, first-hand accounts from Veterans to preserve their legacy. Click here for an article providing a succinct overview of the program. Here is the official link to the Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/vets/

Show you care by showing up

Take the time to attend one of the events listed below. Use it as an opportunity to reflect. Thank those who have served.

Utah Veterans Day 2017 Celebrations

Below is a quick list of Utah Veterans Day 2017 events and resources.

Full event calendar by the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs

Veterans Day Celebration – George E. Wahlen Ogden Veterans Home. Fri, November 10, 1pm – 3pm. 1102 1200 W Street in Ogden.

The Ogden-Weber Technical College Flag Raising Ceremony:

The Ogden-Weber Technical College is a "Best for Vets" campus and is has also earned a "military friendly" designation. Their Veteran Center is amazing for such a small campus and they always host a flag raising ceremony at 11:11 on Veteran's Day. This year it will be held on Friday, November 10th, followed by a pizza luncheon for students and families with veteran ties. For a little inspiration, read this article about the idea that every uneventful Day is a gift, and highlights the value of ordinary days purchased by our servicemen and women. This story was written after the Veteran’s Day flag raising ceremony at the Ogden-Weber Technical College last year.

Layton City to host Utah Veteran's Day events:

Layton City in partnership with the Northern Utah's Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) will host three major events on Veteran's Day, November 11, 2017, to honor all men and women who have served our Armed Forces and those who serve today. The Veteran's Day Parade, scheduled to start at 11:11 a.m., will be the first Veteran's parade in recent memory to be held in Layton City. The 12th annual parade has been moved to Layton this year to accommodate several programs. The Annual Layton City Veteran's Day Commemoration program will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Layton Commons Park Phase I Pavilion. The Vietnam Memorial Wall Groundbreaking Ceremony will take place at the conclusion of the Veteran's Day Commemoration program.

Utah National Guard Veterans Concert

Fri, November 10 The Tabernacle on Temple Square. Concert starts at 7:00 pm The VIP Reception will be held in the Tabernacle Recording Studio on the lower level of the Tabernacle. Parking will be free of charge at the Conference Center to the north of Temple Square (enter from West Temple). Reserved seating for all VIPs will be located on the main floor of the Tabernacle. Formal invitations with instructions will be mailed in the next two weeks. Please make sure you RSVP when you receive your invitation. Seating in the Tabernacle will be limited, and we want to make sure we accommodate all of you that would like to attend both the reception and the concert.