Big Weekend for Veterans

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Created on Friday, 11 March 2016 17:36

Written by Skyler Dixon

VERMONT - Tomorrow and Sunday will be a big day for veterans around and out of the area. Two local events will take place tomorrow to bring veterans, their families, and service organizations together to interact and build connections with one another.

 The first event, the 4th annual NEK Veterans Summit, will take place tomorrow morning at Lyndon State College. Though the event is still fairly new, there is a large turnout every year. Over 50 veteran service organizations will be taking part in the event this year. This event is free and open for veterans and their families.

Thomas Anderson, the Associate Provost and Advisor to the Lyndon State College Veterans Club, explains how the event brings people together that aren’t just locals to the area.

"You don't just get people from around the Northeast Kingdom. You see people come from all over Vermont, northern New Hampshire, and even from Massachusetts." Anderson said.

The Lyndon State College Veteran’s Club is a group of people on campus who are dedicated to helping out veterans in the Northeast Kingdom. Anderson gives an example of what the Veteran’s Club does to help those in need.

"Members of the club like to help outside the college, like helping a disabled veteran stack firewood for the winter." Anderson says. 

Anderson, as well as the Chancellor of Vermont State Colleges Jeb Spaulding, will give opening remarks to kick off the event. After which visitors will be free to talk with one another and see the booths from the exhibitors. Events for the will end at 3 in the afternoon, where the second event of the day will start shortly.

Starting at 3:30, the 3d Annual Ian Muller Rail Jam will take place at Q Burke Mountain Resort. The Rail Jam is a competition of skiing and snowboarding, accompanied by live music.

The Ian Muller Rail Jam is titled in memory of Cpl. Ian Muller, a former member of the Marine Corps and student of Lyndon State who grew up in Danville. On March 11, 2011, Muller was killed during a combat operation in Afghanistan. In honor of his memory, the Rail Jam was created to honor Muller’s life. Muller's brother, Ruben Muller, attended the Rail Jam 2014, and was extremely happy with how the event turned out.

"To know that this is a really nice community, a tight knit community is awesome. The face that they are holding an event like this is awesome", Muller said.

To end the event on Sunday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., Q Burke will offer free lift tickets to all veterans and immediate family members, when proof of service is shown.

For a scheduled list of events for both the Veterans Summit and the Rail Jam, and to sign up for tomorrow’s events, click here.

For more information about the Ian Muller Rail Jam, click here.