Editor's note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave's On the Ground Battle Creek series.
 
BATTLE CREEK, MI — Images of Battle Creek area Veterans will loom large during the Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra’s (BCSO) November 2 concert titled “American Veteran."
 
As the Orchestra’s musicians play selections specifically chosen to honor the service and sacrifice of these Veterans, photos of them will appear in a slideshow on projection screens inside W.K. Kellogg Auditorium, the site of the 7:30 p.m. concert.
 
Maestra Anne Harrigan, BCSO Music Director, says the idea for this particular concert came about after she saw a photo of the Hart Dole Inouye Federal Center taken by Patrick Bush, owner of Patman Droneography.
 
“Our theme for this year is ‘Great Music in Your Hometown’. The Veterans Administration Medical Center and the Federal Center are a big part of our community,” she says. “When putting together marketing for our 2024-25 season we used a lot of beautiful Patman photos. The one of the Federal Center really got to me. I knew it was very impactful. That was the inspiration for the concert.”
 
The V.A. Medical Center celebrated 100 years of service on October 15. Brian Pegouske, Chief of Communication and Community Engagement, says, “These tributes in the community are a great way to honor Veterans and raise awareness for their service to our country. Each Veteran has a story and some of these stories often go untold or forgotten.”
 
Photographer Patrick Roberson, based in Austin, Texas, traveled to Battle Creek in early August and spent five days photographing about 90 Veterans. He attended Cheboygan High School with Susan Balbaugh, Executive Director of the Music Center which includes the BCSO.
 
Some of the Veterans brought memorabilia that they wanted included in their photos.
 
Patrick RobersonAustria Johnson“A Navy Veteran brought a little wooden oar that had been painted by him and his fellow veterans in the colors of the Navy and had been signed by all of them,” Roberson says. “Another Veteran brought a picture of his son who was also a Veteran and who had died from an illness caused by exposure to burn pits. That was kind of sad.”
 
Others brought medals and one female Veteran, Austria Johnson, brought the boots she wore while serving in the military. Roberson also went to the homes of two sisters, both veterans.
 
“One of the sisters has dementia and the other one was taking care of her,” he says.
 
In addition to the photos that were scheduled, he went to the local American Legion and asked Veterans there if they would agree to be photographed. Many of them said ‘yes” after he explained how the photos would be used.
 
Music Center staff reached out to Frank Walker, a retired Air Force Colonel, to get the word out to local Veterans about the photo project. He served for 40 years in the United States Air Force and Air National Guard, including the 110th Wing based at Battle Creek’s Air National Guard Base. Retired since 2010, he continues to be very involved with various organizations that serve Veterans and their families.
 
Colonel Frank WalkerHe was all in on the photo project, even having his own photo taken, even though he admits to being camera-shy.
 
“Any project recognizing the service and sacrifices of military Veterans and their families is close to my heart. I want to make sure they realize that their service and sacrifice doesn’t go unrecognized. Whenever I’m asked to recognize fellow Veterans, I’m always willing to help out.  The bottom line is that this is something very dear to me. As a civilian and as a citizen, the freedoms I enjoy every single day are because of the service and sacrifices made by our Veterans.”
 
This was forgotten by many American civilians at the end of the Vietnam War. Veterans of this war were not celebrated.
 
“In the Vietnam era, those who came back were shunned. They didn’t wear their uniforms or say they were military members,” says Walker, who served in an administrative position during that war. “Society thought this was the war that really shouldn’t have been a war. The men and women who wear the uniforms don’t start the wars, but they do serve their country.”
 
The events of 9-11 served as the trajectory to change this narrative.
 
“With 9-11, we had a rejuvenation and the country came together. One of the most eerie feelings I had in my life was walking out and seeing no planes in the sky,” Walker says.
 
Never forget
 
There are currently 9,000 Veterans living in Calhoun County leading Walker to say, “I’ll bet there isn’t anybody that doesn’t know a Vet.”
 
Many in the local veteran community are dealing with addictions to drugs and alcohol and some are unhoused.
 
“One homeless vet is one too many,” Walker says. “Even in Calhoun County, a lot of them are addicted to drugs or alcohol and a lot of this is caused by PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from the war or being away from family. The emotional side for our Vets is the hardest thing to deal with. We have a lot of work to do to make sure we support them and recognize it’s an illness.”
 
In addition to advocating for veterans still living, Walker is involved in the planning of an event on November 8 at Fort Custer National Cemetery to honor those who passed away while at the VA Medical Center or were homeless.
 
“Nobody claimed them. We ensure that they are buried with the dignity they deserve and we become their family,” he says.
 
Harrigan says it’s important to celebrate all veterans because of “everything they’ve done for us.” The timing of the concert was intentionally set to happen close to Veteran’s Day which is November 11.
 
“Patrick RobersonNational Honor Guard GroupThe orchestra will perform patriotic favorites such as Battle Hymn of the Republic, Requiem for a Soldier from Band of Brothers, and the Armed Forces Salute. The symphony will be joined by eight choirs from throughout the region to send a unified salute to veterans,” she says.
 
The 150 singers who will take to the stage represent choirs including the Battle Creek Community Chorus; Harper Creek High School Honors Choir; Kellogg Choral Union; Lakeview High School Chamber Choir; Pennfield High School Choir; and The University of Olivet Chorale.
 
The two things Walker says he wants to make sure of is that Veterans and their families realize that the community cares and has gratitude for them and that the community recognizes their service and sacrifice and the obstacles they encounter.
 
“We as Veterans and me personally, we appreciate what the symphony is doing, honoring us for our service and sacrifice for this nation,” he says. “Anyone who helps highlight is a winner in my book.”
 
To purchase tickets for the concert or additional information about the BCSO and the Music Center, click this LINK.