Faith Lutheran Church, 15425 Cty. Rd. K, Merrill, will hold a service of tribute to veterans Sunday, April 7, at 10 a.m. The service will be followed by a chili dinner at 11 a.m. Any veterans from the community are invited to attend.
The service will be performed by Wisconsin National Guard State Chaplain Doug Fleischfresser and North Wisconsin District-LCMS president Rev. Dwayne Lueck.
Faith Lutheran Pastor Kevin Hoogland, who recently retired as the Wisconsin National Guard State Chaplain, said the service is meant to thank veterans for their service. The Faith congregation also will be thanked for working through Hoogland’s deployment to the Middle East in 2005-2006.
Hoogland’s military career began in 1986 as a chaplain in the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 39th Infantry Brigade. He transferred to the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 1987 and served for many years as battalion chaplain for the 632nd Armor Battalion in Wausau. His next assignment was as command chaplain for the 32nd Brigade, with whom he deployed to the Middle East in 2005-2006. During this deployment he was selected to be the state chaplain. He retired from the Wisconsin Army National Guard in November 2012. Hoogland has served Faith Lutheran in Merrill since 1987.
Any veterans from outside the Faith congregation who wish to attend the service as asked to call the church at 715-536-5443.