Veterans Day in Big Rapids was kicked off a little early Wednesday with a special ceremony at Holland Park: Veterans and Homefront Heroes Memorial to unveil a monument of a local hero.

 

General Ben Fuller was the top ranking US Marine from 1930-1934.

 

During the ceremony Organizer Mark Brejcha told attendees this all started two year ago when he received a phone call from the Pentagon. 

 

"I got a call from Mike Poumade who was working at the Pentagon,”  “He was looking at the paintings of the Marine Corps commandants and saw No. 15 Ben Fuller, of Big Rapids, Michigan and said oh my god!." Brejcha said. 

 

Big Rapids Native and active duty US Navy Admiral Larry Lagree was also in attendance to unveil the statue. Lagree will be the Grand Marshall of the Veterans Day Parade in downtown Big Rapids which starts at 11am today.