One of Big Rapids highest ranking military members is returning to his home town to celebrate Veteran’s Day this year.  Active duty US Navy Admiral Larry LeGree, a Big Rapids High School Class of 1987 Alum, will return to unveil the Major General Ben Fuller Monument at Holland Park - Veterans and Homefront Heroes Memorial in Big Rapids at 11:00am on November 10th and will be the Grand Marshall for the downtown Big Rapids Veterans Day parade on the following day, November 11th, again, beginning at 11:00am.

The Admiral received his commission upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991, with a degree in Systems Engineering. Admiral LeGree is a nuclear qualified Surface Warfare Officer. His sea duty has included assignments aboard the destroyers USS SCOTT (DDG 995) and USS JOHN YOUNG (DD 973); USS ASHLAND (LSD 48); and multiple assignments aboard the aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65).  His deployments include Operation DESERT STORM, United Nations Operations in Kosovo, Maritime Interception Operations in the Northern Arabian Gulf, Operation SOUTHERN WATCH, ENDURING FREEDOM and UNIFIED RESPONSE.  The Admiral served ashore as a special assistant to the Commander, Navy Recruiting Command and later as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy and speechwriter for the Director, Naval Reactors. He also served as the Principal Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and is currently assistant chief of staff, J-3, Joint Forces Command, Naples, Italy.  LeGree previously served as senior advisor for nuclear security affairs, Office of the Secretary, Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.

As a Commander, LeGree served a combat tour as Commanding Officer of the Asadabad Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. He was the first operational Commanding Officer of USS MESA VERDE (LPD 19), taking that ship and crew on their first deployment. He also served as the final Chief Engineer of ENTERPRISE, his third tour on the Big E.  Before his recent assignment to Naples, Italy, he served as the Commander of Amphibious Squadron EIGHT and Immediate Superior in Command for the BATAAN Amphibious Ready Group. 

Admiral LeGree holds a Master of International Public Policy from the Elliott School of International Affairs of George Washington University. He also holds master’s degrees in Public Administration and Political Science from North Carolina State University. He most recently completed a National Security Fellowship at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. His military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, and various service medals and unit awards. 

Admiral LeGree is the son of Larry Sr. and the late Stephanie LeGree, Big Rapids.  The public can meet the Admiral at AMVET Post 1941, 320 S. 4th Avenue, Big Rapids, from 12:00pm - 1:00pm on November 10th, immediately following the General Fuller monument dedication ceremony.  At that time, the Post will be celebrating the US Marine Corps birthday with the traditional cake cutting ceremony.