Veterans across northern Michigan are being treated to special celebrations Friday.

Many schools are hosting veterans during events thanking them for their service to our country.   

Gaylord Middle School is hosting its Veterans Day Program for the fifteenth year starting at 9.  

Wolverine Elementary School is hosting veterans at a special breakfast and taking part in a rededication of the Wolverine War Memorial at 11:00 a.m..

Cherryland Middle School in Elk Rapids will honor veterans at an assembly.  Guest speakers will talk about their life in the military with students and community members.

Cadillac High School will present its 43rd annual Veterans Day Assembly at 10:00 a.m.. The event will begin by a moment of silence.

Many businesses are also taking time today to show veterans they are appreciated by offering them special deals.

Meantime, the Senate is also trying to show appreciation for military service.  A bill was passed Thursday to help veterans find work following their service in the military.　

"VOW to Hire Heroes Act" provides businesses tax Incentive to hire unemployed veterans, as well as strengthen veteran job training

While the national unemployment rate is 9 percent, the unemployment rate for service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is substantially higher at 12.1 percent.

President Obama urged Congress to pass the bill earlier in the week. "No veteran should stand at the back of any unemployment line. When we say 'support our troops' that can't just be lip-service, we must support them through action," said Sen. Stabenow. "Congress shouldn't just pass a resolution honoring Veterans Day this week-it should take real action to help America's one million unemployed veterans get back to work."

The legislation passed Thursday gives tax credits to businesses that hire unemployed veterans, including:
$2,600 credit for hiring veterans who have been looking for jobs for more than four weeks but less than six months $5,600 credit for hiring a veteran unemployed longer than six months
$9,600 for hiring a veteran unemployed longer than six months that also has service-connected disabilities

The bill also helps ensure veterans have the skills they need to find work after their service to our country ends by:

Ensuring that all service members returning to civilian life will benefit from job training through the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), an interagency workshop coordinated by Departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs.

Working with states to create a licensing and credentialing standard for returning service members to ensure experience performed in military occupations is taken into account when veterans seek licenses for similar work as a civilian. 

Expanding education and training opportunities for older veterans with an additional year of GI benefits.

Allows veterans to begin applying for a federal job at Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, or other federal agencies shortly before ending their military service rather than being forced to be unemployed before applying, as is the case under current law.

If you would like to get the word out on your events you are hosting this Veterans Day, please post the information in the comment section below.