Jenny Spahr hands Sgt. 1st Class Steve Strachn Hillsdale County’s Veteran of the Year award. Courtesy | Jenny Spahr

Sgt. 1st Class Steve Strachn received Hillsdale County’s Veteran of the Year Award on Sept. 23. 

“We look for qualifications like character, military service, veteran advocacy in the community, and community engagement,” said Jenny Spahr, the Veteran of the Year selection committee chair. The award is presented annually at the Hillsdale County Fair.

According to Sphar, Strachn had been on the committee’s radar for the past couple of years.

Each year Strachn said he came close to earning the award, however, he would turn it down. This year, Strachn joked he found out about his nomination too late to thwart the plans. 

“It was really quite a surprise,” Strachn said. “There were so many other deserving veterans out there.” 

Strachn said he felt called to serve the country from a young age. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1975, two years after he graduated from Pittsford High School. 

“After Vietnam, I knew that it was what I wanted to do,” Strachn said. “After almost 21 years of service, it’s an honor and privilege to continue to serve the community.”

Strachn continued his service as an officer with the Michigan Department of Corrections. 

Following his retirement, he remained in service by volunteering at Leighr A. Wright American Legion Post 53 in Hillsdale, where he has served in positions such as first vice commander and the post’s chaplain. 

“He has a long history of military service but also service to the community,” Spahr said. “He’s just a humble and upstanding guy.”

The first Hillsdale Veteran of the Year award was given out in 1962, according to Spahr. 

Peter Jennings, associate professor of leadership at Hillsdale College and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, spoke at the ceremony on what it means to be an American veteran today. Jennings served in Iraq and Afghanistan before obtaining his doctorate in management from Arizona State University. 

“We call our military the service. And when you join the military you go in not to serve yourself but to serve your country,” Jennings said. “American veterans have always been exemplars of what it means to be a citizen. They have exemplified the ideal of civic service.” 

In his speech, Jennings stressed the importance of the responsibilities American citizens have to their country. He focused on George Washington’s call to soldiers returning from the frontlines of the Revolutionary War to continue their service as citizens.  

“As citizens, we have obligations,” Jennings said. “Christ purchased our eternal freedom and salvation. But our veterans purchased for us our civil freedom. We know that our freedom isn’t free.”

Strachn emphasized the importance of thanking veterans in the community. He mentioned fellow volunteers at the American Legion Post 53 who put on events and give back to the veterans in the area. 

“We try to honor everybody in the community,” Strachn said. “There are a lot of vets that really deserve our thanks.”

Send tips to the City News team: collegiancitynews@gmail.com