KENOSHA, Wis. — Veterans from across generations gathered Friday at the Kenosha County Veterans Memorial Park for the annual Veterans Appreciation Summer Picnic, an event that celebrated military service, community involvement, and this year’s Kenosha County Veteran of the Year honoree, Bill Hopkins.
Hopkins, a U.S. Navy veteran and longtime community volunteer, received the 2026 Kenosha County Veteran of the Year award, which recognizes veterans who continue serving their communities long after leaving active duty.
“Standing here as the Kenosha County Veteran of the Year for 2026 is an honor I will never forget,” Hopkins said. “Today reminds us that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off. It continues in our communities in how we show up for one another, and in how we carry forward the lessons and values that we’ve learned.”
Hopkins was recognized for decades of civic involvement, including his years as an elected official in Salem Lakes and the former Village of Silver Lake, his work as a volunteer firefighter, his commitment to youth sports, and his efforts assisting neighbors during the devastating western Kenosha County flooding in 2017.
During his remarks, Hopkins thanked his wife, Suzie, for supporting him through 20 years of Navy service and his years of community involvement afterward. He also acknowledged his children, grandchildren, and his son Brian, who nominated him for the award.
The event also highlighted the contributions of Kenosha County Veterans Services Director Jennifer Blasi, who plans to retire later this year after years of assisting local veterans and their families.
Blasi thanked those who attended and reflected on the bonds shared by military veterans.
“Most of us here today are tied together by the bond of military service, which comes with its own unique set of challenges and rewards,” Blasi said. “Today, all of us being together — multiple generations and all branches of service — is most definitely a reward that we should treasure.”
Now in its fourth year, the Veterans Appreciation Summer Picnic featured a free lunch provided by Mission BBQ, informational tables offering resources from veterans organizations and government agencies, and live music performed by Little Bill’s Big Band.
Miss Wisconsin’s Teen Natalie Popp also participated in the event, performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.” Popp spoke about her efforts to support veterans, a mission inspired by her friendship with World War II veteran Lew Harned, who recently died at age 101.
“I’m incredibly thankful to be here today to talk to each of you about what a beautiful day we have today, your experiences serving our country, and just how your lives are going,” Popp said.
The annual picnic drew veterans and family members from across Kenosha County, continuing a tradition that honors military service while fostering connections among those who have served.
One Response
My wife and I enjoyed the event it was very nice. It was nice to visit many veterans from different conflicts the only way there’s more people would’ve enjoyed coming out here Mission BBQ did a fantastic job feeding everybody thank you Miss teenage Milwaukee, beautiful beautiful voice it was also nice meeting a bunch of Air Force veterans from the Korea conflict all the way through to desert storm