WILX: Jackson Co. Air Force veteran honored for decades of community service

Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Michigan) honored James Ducey of Grass Lake as June’s veteran of the month for Michigan’s Fifth Congressional District.

The district includes the counties of Branch, Cass, Hillsdale, Jackson, Lenawee, Monroe, St. Joseph, and parts of Berrien, Calhoun, and Kalamazoo.

Ducey received the honor for his decades of helping his community after serving in the United States Air Force from 1966 to 1970, where he achieved the rank of sergeant E-4. After he finished active duty, he continued to serve his community when he joined the American Legion Post 252.

For several years he led the Memorial Day celebration and the July Fourth parade.

Ducey said the real honor is in the work he can do for his community.

“Most of us guys are hard workers. We just want to help. We just want to be there for the community, do what the community needs us to do and anything over and above that is gravy,” Ducey said. “So, to me this is a great accomplishment. I never expected anything like this.”

If you’d like to nominate a veteran from any of those counties, you can do it here.

You can watch the entire ceremony here.