The city of Dearborn hosts its Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 in the Michael A. Guido Theater at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Veterans and supporters gathered at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Michael A. Guido Theater in the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center to honor those who served their country.
The Marine Corps League Detachment 152 served as a color guard and the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council provided a ritual firing volley outside the auditorium, followed by a bugler playing taps.
Past Veterans of the Year were present as Janet Montoya, an Air Force veteran who served from 1986 to 1995, and was stationed in the Persian Gulf during Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Operation Southern Watch, was named the 2025 Veteran of the Year, the first woman to receive the honor from the city.
She was the only woman in her maintenance group working on the F-15-E Strike Eagle in Saudi Arabia, where she proved her strength and resilience in a male-dominated war zone.
Montoya is a member of American Legion Post 364 in Dearborn, a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1329, a member of 40&8 Voiture 1002, and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
The event, with Master of Ceremonies John Bendzick, featured speeches by Mayor Abdullah Hammoud and other local officials.
Veteran of the Year 2025 Janet Montoya speaks during the Dearborn Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 in the Michael A. Guido Theater at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
A member of the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council ritual team plays taps during the Dearborn Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 in the Michael A. Guido Theater at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
The Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council ritual team fires a volley outside during the city’s Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 at the Michael A. Guido Theater at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
The Combined Dearborn Voices under the direction G. Kevin Dewey sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the Dearborn Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 in the Michael A. Guido Theater at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
The city’s 2025 Veteran of the Year, Janet Montoya, is honored by the Dearborn City Council during the Dearborn Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 in the Michael A. Guido Theater at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
Local representatives pose with past and present Veterans of the Year during the Dearborn Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 in the Michael A. Guido Theater at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.
Veteran of the Year 2025 Janet Montoya is honored by state, county and local officials during the Dearborn Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 in the Michael A. Guido Theater at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.