From left: CEO of Michigan Veteran Homes Anne Zerbe, Governor Whitmer, U.S. Army Major General Paul Rogers, Representative Jack Bergman and Marquette Township Supervisor Lyn Durant break ground on the new Jacobetti Veterans Home. (Journal photo by Annie Lippert)

MARQUETTE — On Friday morning, local veterans, politicians, representatives from Michigan Veteran Homes, representatives from the State of Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and employees and volunteers at the Jacobetti Veterans Home gathered on Venture Drive in Marquette Township to mark the official groundbreaking of the new Jacobetti Veterans Home.

“Today is a remarkable day and one we’ve been waiting for for a very long time,” said Ann Zerbe, executive director and CEO of MVH. This new veteran’s home has been in the works since 2017, when Zerbe began work on a grant for the new, updated space. It follows in the footsteps of similarly updated facilities in Chesterfield Township and Grand Rapids.

“Our current members and staff look forward to a new home that makes them feel respected, ensures their privacy, and gives them a secure environment,” said Ron Oja, administrator of Michigan Veterans Homes D.J. Jacobetti.

While the current veterans home in Marquette is located downtown, this new campus will be more secluded, offering better access to the natural environment and enough space to allow for the entire facility to be single-story and accessible.

“To me, what makes this facility so special is not the brick and mortar, but it’s the members who live there who call it home, and the people who commit their lives and their passions to take care of those veterans and the heroes of our community,” said Major General Paul Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

“So, we are here not only to break ground, but we’re here to thank all of you, celebrate you, and really celebrate that bond between the community and their veterans.”

While the home itself is getting a major update, the name will remain the same — Michigan Veterans Home D. J. Jacobetti — in honor of Dominic J. Jacobetti, who was born in Negaunee and holds the title for the longest serving member of the Michigan House of Representatives.

“This is a chance for me to tell my friends back in D.C. that Michigan has done the right thing as a next step for their veterans so that other states can see what we’re doing here in creating a living environment for our veterans that they are going to enjoy during the rest of their time on Earth,” said Representative Jack Bergman of the Veterans Affairs Committee in a rare public appearance in his district.

“I guarantee you, this model will be copied in other states as they see what they’ve done here.”

“It’s about fulfilling the sacred promise that we make to all of those who fight for our freedom. Here in Michigan, we will always treat our veterans with the care and respect that they deserve,” said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “They put their lives on the line to keep us safe and we get to hold up our end of the bargain by ensuring that they can live their lives in peace and dignity.

“We stand on the ground that will soon be transformed into a place of refuge, a place of healing, a place of dignity and community.”

The new Michigan Veterans Home D.J. Jacobetti site received 33 million dollars in state investment.

In addition to remarks made by Zerbe, Oja, Rogers, Bergman, Whitmer, David Henry of MI Veterans’ Facility Authority and Lyn Durant of Marquette Township, the event included a ceremonial groundbreaking of the future site, as well as a posting of the colors by the Michigan Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors Upper Peninsula Team and a performance of the national anthem performed by MVHDJJ veterans Glenn Garrett and Tom Codd, with guitar accompaniment by Marshall Codd.

Annie Lippert can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 542. Her email address is alippert@miningjournal.net.