You're Invited! Kent County Female Veterans Appreciation Banquet Is Coming Up On August 14

Kent County Veterans Services (KCVS) is excited to invite you to our annual Female Veterans Appreciation Banquet, taking place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 14! 

Join us in honoring the remarkable women in Kent County who have served our nation. This free event is open to all female veterans and anyone in Kent County who wants to honor them.

It’s an opportunity to come together in celebration and gratitude for the contributions of women veterans, including KCVS’s own Accredited Veterans Services Officer, Theresa Ergang.

"I am grateful to live and work in a county which takes the time to recognize female veterans.

Thankfully more female veterans are being seen not just with the VA but within the community. Events like this shine a light on a female veterans and how awesome they truly are," Ergang said.

Ergang has served with KCVS since 2019 and is the daughter of two Air Force veterans. She followed in their footsteps, enlisting in the Air Force after high school and serving as a medic before being honorably discharged.

Michigan is home to the 15th largest population of women veterans in the country (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs), with an estimated 47,207 female veterans statewide.

Reflecting on her service, Ergang shared: "I’ve met some of the bravest, smartest, coolest people ever when I served - still friends to this day."

The evening will feature a full dinner, desserts, drinks, and special guest speakers. 13 ON YOUR SIDE anchor and executive producer Juliet Dragos, whose husband is a Vietnam War veteran, will emcee the event. Kent County Commissioner Katie DeBoer (District 4), a member of the Veterans Services Advisory Committee, will also deliver a proclamation in honor of female veterans.

This year’s banquet will be held for the first time at the Waddell Center, 1115 Taylor Avenue N in Grand Rapids, with support from Distinctive Catering.

"We are thrilled to once again be hosting this important event to say Thank You to the women who have served our country," said Ryan Grams, Director of Kent County Veterans Services.

Registration is required and must be completed by July 31, 2025. Guests are welcome to bring family or friends to share in the celebration.

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