Students learn about military, police and fire equipment
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — People gathered outside of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids Friday to remember and honor those who have served.
The annual Armed Forces Thanksgiving Luncheon was held during National Military Appreciation Month.
High school students and business owners were able to get up close to and learn about military and police equipment ranging from a helicopter and Humvees to bomb squad gear. Members of the military, the Grand Rapids Fire Department and the Grand Rapids Police Department — which brought its horses and a K-9 unit — were in attendance to explain how everything worked.
Organizers say the event is a great way to help educate each other and to honor and remember those who have served.
“Having the ability to bring the public out, especially the students here, to see, touch, interact, there’s always an impact that can be made when they can actually see what our taxpayer dollars are funding,” Paul Ryan, a retired Navy captain and the chair of the West Michigan Veterans Coalition, said.
Brody Woodwyk, a senior at Caledonia High School, attended the luncheon and received an award for a project he is working on. He has raised $11,000 to create an interactive television inside of the school’s Fine Arts Center. The screen would feature the faces of veterans and students would be able to learn more about their service and background. It’s not complete yet, but he said it should be by the start of the next school year.
“I think it’s important to remember our veterans and Caledonia High School needed something like this and it’s been needed for a while,” Woodwyk said.
Students were able to hear from many speakers at the event and a military helicopter took off from Ah-Nab-Awen Park at 11 a.m.
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