Former Marine Chosen As Dearborn’s 2021 Veteran of the Year

DEARBORN, MI — The Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council has named Stephen Fletcher, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and current member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, as Dearborn’s 2021 Veteran of the Year.

Fletcher will be honored at the Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11 at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave. The public is invited to attend the ceremony and asked to wear masks to protect the high-risk WWII, Korean War and Vietnam veterans who will be present.

The Veteran of the Year is nominated by their veteran peers, then selected by a committee of past recipients. The honoree is chosen based on their continued service to their community, especially veterans, in Dearborn and beyond. Other traits considered are personal qualities of honor, leadership, compassion, and commitment.

“Stephen is that type of Marine who will step up and get the job done, but will not toot his own horn,” wrote Art Garrison, the 2017 Veteran of the Year, in his nomination form. “Besides being a member of many veteran organizations in Dearborn, he is also a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the civilian uniformed branch of Team Coast Guard.”

Garrison described Fletcher as a selfless public servant who has worked tirelessly with the Missing in America Project (MIAP) to bring the cremains of veterans home for interment at the Great Lakes National Cemetery. Fletcher described his involvement with MIAP as one of the greatest honors and says it’s a humbling experience to be able to give these veterans, spanning from World War I to Vietnam, a proper internment.

According to Fletcher, he said that he is humbled and honored to have been nominated and selected by his peers to represent Dearborn’s veteran community as the 2021 Veteran of the Year recipient. To read more about Fletcher, click here.