WHITEHALL — Whitehall's girls basketball program hosted its annual Veterans Appreciation Night Friday between the girls and boys game against Manistee - and this time, the Vikings brought the boys team in on the celebration.
Members of both programs escorted veterans in their lives, many of them relatives, onto the court in between games, and by the time it was done, the line of players and veterans stretched so long that the court was not wide enough for them all to stand in a straight line. Then, a Whitehall pep band member played the national anthem on his trumpet. Whitehall players Janie and Allie Fagan, who headed up this year's edition of the event, also presented checks for $430.30 to both the White Lake VFW and the American Legion; a raffle provided the funds donated.
For Whitehall coach Brian Milliron, whose father-in-law Larry Bacon was among the veterans honored (he was escorted by Brian's daughter Mayson, a manager for the team), getting more participation was an easy decision.
"When it comes to celebrating people, it's not like pie," Milliron smiled. "It's not like
there's only a certain amount of it and there's not enough to go around.
We can celebrate all these people. So many of these kids
have connections to people in the community that did amazing
things.
"We don't use the hyperbole of going to war when it comes to
sports. Real war is a whole lot different
than the pretty meaningless stuff that we do out here,
but we get to do it because of what they did. That's the extremely important part, and it's not lost on our kids."
Whitehall players Allie (left) and Janie Fagan smile with their father Leo during Friday's Veterans Appreciation Night in Whitehall. The Fagan sisters, along with now-graduated Lianne, have been part of each of the annual events in the few years the girls basketball program has been hosting them.
Milliron took note that two of the veterans honored were Whitehall staffers - Kirk Mikkelson and Josh Anderson.
The Fagan sisters - now-graduated Lianne, senior Janie and sophomore Allie - have been at the center of the annual celebration, with Viking alum Taylor Ottinger also part of the event its first year. The Fagans' dad, Leo, is a Marine Corps veteran, having served for 23 years.
"My dad needs a ton to
me, and to do this for not only him, but for all the veterans and the VFW and the American Legion, it makes my heart happy," Janie said. "I'm grateful that I'm able to do this for them. It means the world to me."
Milliron, whose history students also participate in the VFW's Patriot's Pen essay contest each year, said he loves being around Whitehall students, and the veterans in their lives are part of the reason so many of them develop into good people.
"We have to get them out here and do some arm-twisting for it, because
they don't want to be the center of attention," Milliron said of the honored veterans. "Our kids do such a good
job, and they have
great people in their lives, like these veterans, that make them these
great people. We want to celebrate that."
A color guard for the White Lake VFW and Whitehall American Legion exits after presenting the colors during the national anthem prior to the boys basketball game against Manistee Friday night.
Boys coach Christian Subdon said he was grateful for his team to be invited to participate, crediting the Fagan sisters for their work on the celebration.
"They did all of it," Subdon said. "That's nothing to do with me or (us). They did an incredible job putting
it together. It's a cool thing to see."
Leo Fagan said his daughters being such a big part of the annual celebration is especially meaningful to him. The program is hopeful that when, someday, the Fagans have all graduated, that the tradition will continue.
"It means a lot
to me. It means a lot to all the other veterans," Leo said. "I'm hoping to see this keep going with our daughters for the next
couple years and hopefully other students keep it going for many more."
