Celebrating Veterans Day

WEST MICHIGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Veterans Day events are planned all across West Michigan Wednesday to honor our nation's service members, both past and present.

More than 100,000 troops are fighting in Iraq, with nearly 70,000 more in Afghanistan.

While the White House is working to draw down those troop levels in Iraq, many more soldiers could be headed to Afghanistan.

On this Veterans Day we are remembering those who have served and are serving our country right now. It looks like more soldiers will join those ranks.

Wednesday President Obama will meet with his war council. He's considering four options for U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. While the White House is denying that he has reached a decision, CBS News has learned the administration has settled on a new strategy.

It appears most, if not all, of the additional 40,000 troops being considered will be sent to the country.

CBS News has learned the president has tentatively decided to send four combat brigades plus thousands more support troops to Afghanistan. That means there would be 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan by the end the president's first term.

But again, the White House has not officially made this announcement.

There are multiple ceremonies to honor veterans in West Michigan.

At Fort Custer events will begin at 10:30 in the morning. The ceremony will include patriotic music, military speakers and a fly over by the Michigan Air National Guard.

Those at the cemetery will also be dedicating two memorial plaques at 10:30.

In the City of St. Joe a memorial will be dedicated to Major Matthew Houseal at 11:00 a.m. He was killed by another soldier while serving in Iraq as a psychologist.

Houseal was killed this past May when a sergeant nearing the end of his third tour in Iraq walked into the combat stress clinic at Camp Liberty and opened fire. Five people will killed in that attack.

In Plainwell a long awaited veterans memorial will be dedicated Wednesday. You may remember artist Charlie Wakefield created a sand sculpture to help raise money for the memorial. The 20-foot sculpture honors veterans, past and present.

He used it to draw attention to veterans' issues and help raise money for the memorial in Plainwell's Sherwood Park.

That memorial is finished and will be dedicated Wednesday.

Governor Granholm is honoring Michigan residents who serve our country. She declared November "Hire a Veteran Month," urging businesses to consider qualified veterans for open positions.

The governor is also encouraging everyone to thank service members Wednesday for their commitment and bravery. To date more than 180 Michigan troops have died in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A local doctor found a different way to thank veterans for their service. Steven Ringler partnered with Spectrum Health to offer free plastic surgery for injured service members.

All month long, he's evaluating scars, burns and other injuries. If he determines they can be treated with outpatient surgery he'll set up an appointment.

If you'd like to leave a message for those who have sacrificed for our country you can click here.