CORTLAND — Cortland Healthcare Center hosted its annual Veterans Day luncheon Tuesday, where residents and employees who served in the armed forces, as well as local veterans, were honored.

“Because of so many other events happening on Veterans Day, we wanted to make sure the public had the opportunity to attend our luncheon,” said Jessica Popp, admissions and marketing director of Cortland Healthcare Center, who organized the event, explaining why it took place a week after Veterans Day.

The guest speaker was Army National Guard veteran Mike Hovis of Cortland. After graduating from Lakeview High School in 1986 and wanting to go on to college, he spoke with an Army National Guard recruiter, who told him if he served six years of active duty and two years of inactive duty, his tuition would be covered. In 1987, Hovis boarded a plane from Cleveland to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend basic training.

“It was the first plane I had been on in my entire life. It was the first time I had been away from Cortland in my entire life. It was quite life-changing,” Hovis said.

After completing basic training and military police school, Hovis returned to attend Youngstown State University, where he earned two college degrees.

During the Persian Gulf War, his National Guard Unit was activated. His daughter was born three days before he left.

During the Persian Gulf War, his unit oversaw the prisoner of war camp, where they monitored and cared for the prisoners after escorting them there. After the war, they were assigned to customs, which meant being in charge of cleaning any military equipment returning to the United States or Germany. Later, Hovis was responsible for inspecting the equipment being returned. Hovis then flew back to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and returned to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna, where he met his new daughter, who was now 4 months old.

“I was very dedicated, and I am pretty proud of my service,” Hovis said.

Hovis was a police officer in Cortland for a year and was later hired by Bazetta where he served for 25 years, retiring as police chief. He is now chairman of the Bazetta trustees.

A pinning ceremony took place, honoring Hovis, Navy veteran Jim Marrangoni of Cortland and Navy veteran Joe Banko of Howland. Melissa Cesare of Southern Care Hospice presented the veterans with pins and a certificate, honoring them for their service. Jim Marlow of Champion, a clinical liaison with Expand Health at Home, addressed and thanked the veterans.

Cesare read a poem titled “Attitudes for Americans Who Served.” The poem expresses gratitude to veterans for their service and sacrifices.

Lakeview Local School District choir director Rebecca Shelton addressed those attending, welcoming them to sing along with the Honors Choir. The choir sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” “We Will Stand as Strong Tall Towers,” “Tribute to the Armed Forces” and “God Bless America.”

Banko, pastor of Center Point Church in Girard, as well as chaplain for Expand Home Health, led a prayer. Cortland Healthcare Center residents who served in the armed forces but were unable to attend the event were pinned in their rooms and presented with certificates for their service.