Grand Rapids Medal of Honor Recipient to Speak at Otsego

TONTOGANY, Ohio — Medal of Honor recipient and retired Navy SEAL Edward C. Byers will return to the Otsego area later this month for a free lecture at Otsego High School.

Byers will present “Heartbeat of America and Her Enduring Values” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, in the Otsego High School auditorium.

The event is being hosted by the Historical Society of Grand Rapids, Ohio as part of the area’s commemoration of America’s 250th celebration.

Byers was raised in Grand Rapids and graduated from Otsego High School in 1997. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2016 for his actions during a 2012 hostage rescue mission in Afghanistan as a member of SEAL Team Six.

The Historical Society said the program will focus on Byers’ vision of America and the values associated with the Medal of Honor, including sacrifice, integrity, patriotism, courage, commitment and citizenship.

Admission is free, but reservations are requested through the Historical Society’s website at grandrapidshistoricalsociety.org.

For sponsorship information, contact Historical Society President Steve Kryder at 419-789-2534 or Vice President Chuck Thomas at 419-265-7936.