IRON MOUNTAIN — Dennis Lynch of Norway was named Dickinson County Veteran of the Year during the fifth annual Veterans Appreciation Picnic and Concert held at Lake Antoine.

Lynch, a former teacher and longtime track coach at Norway High School, was introduced at Saturday’s event by a former student — state Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township.

Lynch said he didn’t know “this was going to happen but I started to suspect it when I started seeing all these people,” including his family.

McBroom said he was blessed to be asked by Denise Formolo, director of the Dickinson County Veteran Service Office, to be part of the presentation.

“He made a big impact on my life as well as thousands of other people across Dickinson County,” McBroom said. “His service to fellow veterans is consistent and he never seems to weary of advocating for their needs.

“He continues to help students make connections with veterans by promoting the American Legion Boys and Girls State programs as well as helping the color guard at events and parades,” McBroom said.

“What an honor,” Lynch’s wife, Laurie, said. “I’m so proud. He works so hard. He’s there all the time.”

Lynch was born in 1943 in Pocahontas, Ark., and moved to Flint, Mich. He enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1963 and was sent to Vietnam in 1965. He served in Da Nang, Marble Mountains and Chu Lai as a lance corporal mechanic/driver in a company attached to a helicopter squadron in the air wing.

He finished the enlistment in 1967 at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina and graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1971. He then reported to Quantico, Va., to enter Marine Officer Candidate School. In 1975 he attended Radford University in Virginia where he received his teaching degree.

He taught English and social studies at Norway from 1985 to 2014, McBroom said. After retirement he remained active, serving on the Norway-Vulcan Board of Education and in the Dickinson County Democratic Party. He is active in the Norway Legion and VFW, served on the Dickinson County Veterans Board and is secretary of the veteran’s alliance. He has portrayed Leif Erikson in the annual Fall Festival in Norway and last year served as Santa at the Lake Antoine Park Partners Lights at the Lake Christmas event.

He has been married to Laurie since 1987 and has five children, 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

“I never had to do anything that I didn’t want to do,” Lynch said. “Things just came along. It’s been an honor. The service did more for me than I ever did for it. It’s so much a privilege. I’m amazed.”

“He’s a very special guy, a special teacher, a true example of someone who loves his community and the people in it,” McBroom said. “He has truly left a legacy to his community and neighbors.”

The recipient was chosen by the board from anonymous nomination letters, according to Formolo.

Last year, Ferrand “Sam” Ethington” was selected as the first Dickinson County Veteran of the Year by the Dickinson County Office of Veterans Affairs, along with the Dickinson County Veterans Board.