Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By MEGAN HUGHES
Hurley — The Hurley K-12 School welcomed area veterans, friends and families to the school gym on Monday morning in remembrance of Veterans Day.
Guest speaker Kyle Mabie, a member of the U.S. Army Infantry, talked about the importance of gathering and remembering those who have served on such a holiday.
Mabie is a 2005 graduate from Hurley High School and has been stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. He also fought in Iraq, earning the Purple Heart. Following his service, he earned a degree in criminal justice and now serves on the Hurley police force.
Mabie spoke about his time in service and his experiences on the quick reaction force, wherein he and his comrades supported other units facing an enemy.
Regarding his assignment in Ramadi, Iraq, he said, “At the time, which was 2006, it was the most dangerous city in the country. When we left, it was a symbol of peace.”
On April 16, 2007, Mabie was injured, and even so, stayed and continued fighting.
Following his service in Iraq, Mabie returned to his post in Germany, where he decided he would end his career.
After he returned from service, Mabie realized that many skills he had learned did not translate well to civilian life. Thus, he earned his criminal justice degree from Gogebic Community College so that he could pursue a career in police work and continue to give back to his community.
“A lot of people aren’t so lucky,” he said, “Some people (end up) with severe physical injuries. And over 7,000 soldiers since 2001 have died in the line of combat.”
He implored the audience to call the veterans they know and love and check on them, adding that “it will mean a lot to them.”
The ceremony also featured music by the school band and choir, led by Jesika Cane and Bethany Bungartz, respectively. Songs included “The Star Spangled Banner” and “A Tribute to the Armed Services.”