Trek for Vets passes through Traverse City on 500-mile journey

A trailer parked at the Traverse City VFW until 10 a.m. Thursday marked a hometown stop on Trek for Vets, a 500-mile walk across Michigan built around a blunt message: veteran isolation can turn into crisis quickly, and too many families miss the warning signs.

The second annual trek passed through Traverse City on Wednesday as part of a 25-day route that began May 1 in St. Ignace and is scheduled to end with the Royal Oak Memorial Day Parade on May 25. Organizers said the journey covers about 20 miles a day and stretches across the entire state, with stops in roughly 100 cities, towns and villages.

What began in 2025 as a 200-mile, 12-day walk has expanded into a much larger public campaign. Lawrence Miller, the creator of Trek for Vets, set out last year to raise awareness of veterans in crisis, including those dealing with isolation, homelessness and suicide risk. Earlier fundraising goals tied the effort to $222 per mile, with donations meant to support legal, mental, physical and housing needs.

This year’s route also carries a tribute to the USMC reconnaissance community and is slated to travel via air, land and sea, adding a military service connection to what is already a statewide awareness drive. The visibility matters in places like Grand Traverse County, where veterans, families and service groups can see the trek up close instead of hearing about it only in passing.

Traverse City’s role was more than symbolic. By parking the trailer at the local VFW, the trek put its message in front of a familiar veteran gathering place and gave residents a concrete way to notice the effort as it moved through town. Local businesses and veteran organizations can help by hosting the trek, making room for the trailer or publicizing the route, turning a passing event into a visible reminder that isolation is not always obvious from the outside.

The final stop is set for Royal Oak, where the Veterans Events Committee says the Memorial Day Parade has been held for several decades. The 2026 parade will step off at 9 a.m. Monday, May 25, on Main Street at Lincoln. For Grand Traverse County, the Traverse City stop tied a local main street and a local veterans hall to a broader Michigan route meant to keep veterans from feeling overlooked.