Munising resident Sonny Putvin has been recognized as the 2023 Michigan Veterans Affairs Veteran of the Year. The recognition comes after decades of support and organizing.
“It’s very humbling and also very — I really don’t like this kind of thing. What I do is because it makes me happy, so it’s not for recognition,” he said.
Putvin is humble, to a fault in this case. He stated that he didn’t feel deserving of the award, but could not put into words what kind of qualifications a person would need to be recognized as Veteran of the Year.
He did credit James Provost, the Marquette County veteran who was named U.P. Veteran of the Year at the U.P. State Fair in August. Provost was selected over Putvin for the award, but Alger County Veterans Affairs Coordinator Becky Burns said that Putvin deserved some sort of higher recognition. She took the same application from the U.P. Veteran of the Year award and submitted it to the state without telling anyone. “I submitted Sonny’s name without letting my committee, the veteran organizations or Sonny know. Sonny has done so much for our community that I wasn’t even aware of until reading his nomination letter that I felt he was extremely worthy of a higher recognition,” she said. “I was ecstatic when I received notice Sonny won yet had an uh-oh moment with realization now I had to tell Sonny and his family of the award.”
Serving one year, seven months and six days in the U.S. Army, Putvin served in the Vietnam War. An infantryman, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, two overseas bars, Bronze Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation, Vietnam Campaign Medal with device, Army Good Conduct Medal and more for proficiency and skill while in service.
An only son, he was not draft eligible, but still volunteered to serve. Like other Vietnam veterans, Putvin struggled with the hardships of war, while also celebrating his service and love for his country.
“I volunteered. Mom, dad and apple pie, you know? But the service, they didn’t do things right. We’re out pulling an overnight ambush and they’re saying it’s to protect us. Some of our own guys got killed during that time,” he said, tearing up over the buddies he lost while serving. “We salute them every month when we have our meetings and talk about them. That’s all you can do for their families.”
After returning home to Munising after an honorable discharge, Putvin got involved with the American Legion. First year of membership were free for those returning from service, and the community focus allowed a quicker integration back to his hometown.
Over 50 years of membership, Putvin served in many roles, including being the first Post Commander to serve in the Vietnam War. He is also a member of the Vietnam Veterans of Alger County and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Putvin has also served in the honor guard for over 440 funerals of veterans in Alger County. Supporting the local veterans organizations is still an important part of veterans’ well being, according to Putvin. Regardless of time of service or age, recognizing the support from one serviceperson to another is a positive thing if a veteran is willing to take the opportunity. Putvin is hoping more younger veterans will take this approach for themselves and their community.
“It’s just a different world for these young guys. They’re good people, but they never blended into a group like we have,” he said. “They’re more than welcome to come out, we’ll turn over every opportunity to them. They’re proud of us and we’re proud of them.”
Putvin has also continued local efforts to clean veteran tombstones at Maple Ridge and other veteran cemeteries. Just like every other effort Putvin has been a part of, he goes out of his way to credit Roger Kempany, another local veteran who came up with the idea.
“He was looking at the Veterans Memorial and some of the stones were turned a bit and he made the comment that no one pays attention anymore. I went up there and looked at it and he was right. So we got a group together and started doing it and just kept going after that. Had a pretty good crew that came around to help out,” Putvin said.
Paired with one of his best friends Joe Paquette, the duo helped grow the Fourth of July festivities in Munising. Organizing the first door-to-door fundraiser, Putvin helped keep the holiday fireworks, preserving Munising Bay as one of the best backdrops for the Fourth statewide.
“It just makes you proud to be able to do it. When you’re doing good things it makes you feel good. It is what it is, you see someone trip and you help them up. It’s what a lot of people in our area do. Yoopers are like that. Pretty proud of that,” Putvin said.
The 2023 Michigan Veterans Affairs Awards will be in Novi on November 4. This is the second year in a row that an Alger County resident has won a state veterans award, after Burns was named Veterans Service Provider of the Year in 2022. Putvin also won the 2022 Alger County Veteran of the Year.
