Lorain Veterans Council names Mike Kachure 2026 Veteran of the Year

LORAIN — The Lorain Veterans Council recognized Army veteran Mike Kachure its 2026 Veteran of the Year not only for his service to his country, but his years of service to his fellow veterans in the years since. The event was held Saturday at the Italian American Veterans Post 1 hall in Lorain and was hosted by the Jewish War Veterans Post 222. In addition to naming Kachure as Veteran of the Year, the council also gave Community Service Awards to Lorain Mayor Jack Bradley, the Charlie's Wishes for Veterans nonprofit and Ryan Murphy, an officer at Lorain County Community College's Military and Veteran Services Office. A graduate of the United States Military Academy, better known as West Point, Kachure served as a 1st and 2nd Lieutenant Combat Engineer. He holds the Army Achievement Medal (2nd Award), National Defense Service Medal, Army Lapel Button, Army Service Ribbon and Parachutist Badge. Kachure has served as the AMVETS Post 47 Commander since 2011 and has held a number of state-level AMVETS posts. He has also served in a number of roles with the Lorain Veterans Council and on Saturday was sworn in as the council's new treasurer. "When I look back on my journey, from West Point, the Army and now being a veteran, I feel this was my hidden destination I was unaware of at the time," Kachure said. "To get involved with community, to embrace altruistic giving. It has helped me get clear about why I do what I do. There is no greater gift one can give than their most precious resource, time. And there are so many people in this room that continue to give that gift." Kachure lives in Lorain with his wife Michelle and he has three daughters: Lauren, Samantha and Abby. All of the council's Community Service Awards were given to other members of the community who give the gift of time to veterans. Jack Bradley, himself a veteran, was recognized for his commitment to the city of Lorain generally, as well as his work to fight veteran homelessness and supporting the Lorain Memorial Day parade. "Mayor Bradley has been more than an ally, he has been a champion for those who served," said Steve Smith, Commander of JWV Post 222. Murphy was another veteran to receive the Community Service Award, having served in both the Marine Corps and the Air Force Reserve. He was recognized for his work at LCCC assisting military members and veterans on campus, as well as his work with the Lorain County Domestic Relations Court and Lorain County Veterans Treatment Court. "I believe that everyone has a part to play in servicing not only our veterans, but active duty reservists, families (and) all of our loved ones," Murphy said. "So, again, this award is not just for me, and not just for Sarah and Leah Chapman (Murphy's colleagues at LCCC)... This is a testament to what we all do for the people who come through our doors." The final Community Service Award went to Charlie's Wishes for Veterans, an Elyria nonprofit which works to improve the lives of veterans by providing yard cleanups, home repairs or improvements and whatever other help it can provide. Charlie's Wishes Director Shalon Rogers and Deputy Director Dale Bally both accepted the award. "This is such a true honor, and I am so totally grateful for every single one of you," Rogers said. "Tonight is about our service, it is about helping each other through the little moments and through the big moments. It is about getting us up every day. I smile every day, I go out of my way, I do my best to make sure I put a smile on somebody's face every single day. That is the way I was brought up." Also at Saturday's dinner, Kachure and the other 2026 officers of the Lorain Veterans Council were sworn into office. Kachure is treasurer, Zachary Simonoff is president, Ken Baughman is Vice President and Stephen Sturgill is secretary. Simonoff said that in 2026, the council would focus on its new push to welcome veterans organizations from outside the city of Lorain and make the organization truly county-wide. As the host of the event, the Jewish War Veterans also invited guest speaker Shari Rabin, an author and professor of Jewish studies, religion, and history at Oberlin College. Rabin spoke about the history of Jewish service members in American conflicts stretching back to the Revolutionary War, with a special focus on the Civil War and on one local Jewish Civil War veteran, Adolph Ehrlich of Elyria. "The Jewish War Veterans should feel proud to trace their history to these men, who first helped to secure freedom for millions of Americans, and then fought for a more capacious, inclusive understanding of the American military and of American identity more broadly," Rabin said. Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.