Celebrating Family & Freedom
Chassell festival held Saturday
Trending
CHASSELL -- The posters advertising Saturday’s Family Freedom Festival in Chassell, promised an “afternoon full of fun and information.” Judging by the reaction of the hundreds who came to the Chassell VFW Hall, the promise was fulfilled.
Sponsored by the Chassell VFW District 15 and Auxiliary, the fun-filled event featured refreshments including pizza and hotdogs, ice cream and popcorn and plenty of candy and other sweets -- all free! There were children’s games with prizes and door prizes for adults.
Judy Fell of the Chassell VFW Auxiliary, who is also the District 15 president, said the event, which doesn’t occur annually, is the seventh the Chassell chapter has sponsored. She said the purpose is to show what the VFW is all about. “We want to let the public know the VFW is more than just the canteen.” Fell said. While the canteen, in downtown Chassell, is a prominent fixture of the community, the VFW does so much more. “We offer scholarships and support veterans and the community, through a variety of projects and activities.”
One of those very special projects is local sponsorship of the VFW Auxiliary’s Patriotic Art Contest. Each year, more than 4,000 high school students from across the country participate in the VFW Auxiliary's Young American Creative Patriotic Art Contest. Students compete on the state level with winners advancing to the national finals.
This year’s state winner -- who just happens to be sponsored by the Chassell VFW Auxiliary -- is Nynna Jarvi a student at Calumet High School. Not only did she win the state competition, but she finished an impressive fourth place nationally.
Jarvi’s winning acrylic painting features the Statue of Liberty and New York skyline reflected in the tearful eye of a newly arrived immigrant. “I wanted to represent how the Statue of Liberty would appear to someone coming into the United States,” Jarvi said. She feels the freedoms we have here in America are very precious. “We can’t take them for granted.” She says she plans on entering the contest once again this school year.
In addition to all the free food, games, prizes and drawings, there Were presentations by the US Air Force, Space Force and Army, UPPCO, UP Health Caregivers group, the Iron Mountain VA Hospital, local firefighters and EMS and the Michigan State Police (MSP).
One of the more popular booths was the MSP driving simulator. Essentially an oversized video game, where participants sit behind the wheel wearing goggles which simulate what an impaired driver would see. Trooper Alan Narhi of the Calumet MSP Post said the simulator has three modes, Distracted Driving, Impaired Driving and normal driving, which is essentially a video game which was quite popular with the youngsters.
Malanie Niemi of Lake Linden drove the simulator under the impaired setting. “It really shows you how much of a difference driving under the influence makes,” she said. “You think you’re under control, but you’re not.”
In a room apart from all the games and demonstrations, a “meet and greet” area was set aside where the public could talk with candidates for the upcoming election. Among those on hand were State Representative Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock) and his Democratic opponent Brian Irizarry of Houghton. First Congressional District candidate Callie Barr was on hand as well as candidates for State Senator and county officials.