Listeners Help Bring Most Gifts Yet to Christmas is for Veterans at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans

They seemed to be a big hit with the crowd.
Marquette, MI – December 22, 2017 – Christmas is for Veterans was better than ever this year with an impressive amount of donations. Great Lakes Radio staff was floored by the community’s generosity. We asked our listeners to bring gifts of comfort for our veterans and people certainly did not hold back! We packed up our slay this morning and moved gifts over to the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans to get set up for the days’ activities.
Picking up around 1pm, veterans and family members gathered to comb through the tables. Each table was covered with all sorts of items from the wish list, plus few extras! Veterans picked through the tables choosing from an assortment of clothing, toiletries, and entertainment items. Donations included everything from Michael Kors clothing, Croft & Barrow flannel shirts, sweatpants, Packers gear, and winter jackets. Some people donated brand new watches, decks of cards, books, and some extremely soft pajama pants!
Once the vets had taken their stroll past the tables, everyone took a seat to enjoy what else the afternoon had to offer. The Sunny Girls joined us to put on a holiday show leading the crowd in some Christmas carol favorites. Carrying us through carols like “Rudolph the Red-noised Reindeer” and “Oh, Little Town of Bethlehem”, even I was singing along with the Sunny Girls! Usually dressed in yellow to bring the “sunny” to the show, this performance had the ladies dressed up in red and radiating holiday cheer.

Mike, Bill, Bruce, and Jerry at Christmas is for Veterans 2017.
A few songs in we were joined by Santa Claus! Moving from table to table, Santa handed veterans special Christmas ornaments and even gave out a few hugs to our heroes of war. Entering to the tune of “Frosty the Snowman” shortly after Santa’s appearance, Frosty came in to dance around and greet people in the crowd.
After a few more songs the ladies took a break and the Sunny Girls’ accordion player, Renee, went to pay her respects. She moved from the front of the room to chat with one of the vets in the crowd. The two had gone to high school together before he shipped out, so she took a moment to thank him for his service and reflect.
Each year Great Lakes Radio participates in the Christmas is for Veterans. We help raise awareness for the event and drive people to various local businesses to make donations for the big holiday party. While the donations are a big part, Christmas is for Veterans is about giving our local heroes the respect they deserve and remembering those who were lost. It’s about giving people a chance to reconnect during the holidays and maybe when it’s all said and done, leave a little better off than when they came, and certainly with a bit more holiday spirit.
Check out photos from the 2017 Christmas is for Veterans event below. If you’re interesting in seeing pictures from previous years, check out our photo archive.
Special thanks to Re/Max First Realty, Super One Foods, Snyders Drug Stores, Hudson’s Classic Grill, Our Grille, River Valley Bank, Great Lakes Radio, and Northland Lawn, Sports for having donation locations and making this event possible!
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- Santa bringing out the Naughty and Nice List.
Santa bringing out the Naughty and Nice List.
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- Great Lakes Radio participates in the Christmas is for Veterans each year. Join us for the next one!
Great Lakes Radio participates in the Christmas is for Veterans each year. Join us for the next one!
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- Big thanks to the Sunny Girls for putting on such a fun show.
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- Just enjoying the festive fun!
Just enjoying the festive fun!
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- They sang Frosty the Snowman for Frosty's entrance!
They sang Frosty the Snowman for Frosty's entrance!
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- People loved to watch the group perform.
People loved to watch the group perform.
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- The Sunny Girls sure brought the holiday cheer.
The Sunny Girls sure brought the holiday cheer.
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- They seemed to be a big hit with the crowd.
They seemed to be a big hit with the crowd.
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- Santa's helper giving out some ornaments.
Santa's helper giving out some ornaments.
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- Santa showed up during the day too!
Santa showed up during the day too!
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- Santa gave each of the vets a special ornament.
Santa gave each of the vets a special ornament.
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- And in came Frosty the Snowman!
And in came Frosty the Snowman!
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- The group sang popular carols like Jingle Bells and Silent Night.
The group sang popular carols like Jingle Bells and Silent Night.
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- We had a great time and many people sang along!
We had a great time and many people sang along!
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- They lead the group in some of the best Christmas carols.
They lead the group in some of the best Christmas carols.
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- The Sunny Girls game to put on a show!
The Sunny Girls game to put on a show!
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- One of the singers chatting with a Veteran.
One of the singers chatting with a Veteran.
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- We had Veterans from all ages and backgrounds.
We had Veterans from all ages and backgrounds.
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- The room really filled in by 1:30!
The room really filled in by 1:30!
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- Mike, Bill, Bruce, and Jerry at Christmas is for Veterans 2017.
Mike, Bill, Bruce, and Jerry at Christmas is for Veterans 2017.
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- Those socks are perfect for U.P. winters!
Those socks are perfect for U.P. winters!
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- The room really started to fill up!
The room really started to fill up!
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- GLR Sales Reps Bill and Bruce with one of the Veterans.
GLR Sales Reps Bill and Bruce with one of the Veterans.
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- Checking out a new hooded sweatshirt.
Checking out a new hooded sweatshirt.
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- The room was full of clothing but also fun stuff like games, cards and books.
The room was full of clothing but also fun stuff like games, cards and books.
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- Someone donated a number of watches to the event.
Someone donated a number of watches to the event.
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- This gentleman took a liking to a brand new watch.
This gentleman took a liking to a brand new watch.
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- Make sure you donate to Christmas is for Veterans next year.
Make sure you donate to Christmas is for Veterans next year.
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- Bruce finding a t-shirt for one Veteran.
Bruce finding a t-shirt for one Veteran.
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- All of the Veterans were excited to see what was set out.
All of the Veterans were excited to see what was set out.
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- GLR Sales Rep Bruce helped this gentleman around the room..
GLR Sales Rep Bruce helped this gentleman around the room..
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- There was quite a lot to look through during Christmas is for Veterans.
There was quite a lot to look through during Christmas is for Veterans.
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- Mike Plourde attended again this year.
Mike Plourde attended again this year.
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- This man was a World War 2 veteran!
This man was a Worldd War 2 veteran!
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- Great Lakes Radio Sales Rep, Jerry, talking to some of the Vets.
Great Lakes Radio Sales Rep, Jerry, talking to some of the Vets.
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- People slowly filled into the room for Christmas is for Veterans!
People slowly filled into the room for Christmas is for Veterans!