(La Porte, IN) - A lifelong area resident missed his first Veterans Day ceremony in La Porte because of a cancelled flight. Military veteran Rich Mrozinski of Rolling Prairie has been to every one since becoming a member of the mayor’s Veterans Committee more than 30 years ago.
The committee puts on the ceremony. Mrozinski said his flight home from Florida where he spends much of the winter was cancelled last night due to reductions in the number of flights offered caused by the federal government shutdown.
“The airports are mess here in Florida, Well, all over, actually,” he said. Mrozinski said he booked the flight in order to attend the 38th annual Veterans Day ceremony this morning at the Civic Auditorium. His plan now is to spend the holiday with other former military servicemen.
“I have a lot of veteran friends down here. We’ll get together later for lunch,” he said. Mrozinski, a former La Porte County Commissioner who also once served on the La Porte County Council, spent time in combat during the Vietnam War. He's also been an advocate for veterans by going to Washington D.C. over the years at times to lobby on their behalf.
