Happy Veteran’s Day!
Interview with Sugarmaker and US Navy Officer, Mark Metzger
Smoky Lake: In which branch of the military did you serve and what was your role there?
Mark: U.S. Navy–28 years active duty. I was a nuclear-trained Surface Warfare Officer and had command of a guided missile frigate
Smoky Lake: In what locations have you served? Have you done a lot of traveling?
Mark: Traveled all over the world (best port visit–Halifax Nova Scotia); Family and I were stationed in Newport, RI, Norfolk, VA, Bremerton, WA, and in Yokosuka, Japan.
Smoky Lake: What has been the most rewarding aspect of your career?
Mark: Most rewarding–working alongside great people with a great work ethic (I miss them and that); having command at sea and finishing my sea tours as Chief Engineer of USS ENTERPRISE were amazing as well.
Smoky Lake: Have your experiences in the military influenced the way you operate your maple syrup business in any way?
Mark: Navy experience — and consulting since then in continuous improvement/operational excellence — has challenged me to improve every year multiple aspects of collecting, storing, and processing maple sap.
Smoky Lake: What is your favorite thing about the maple season?
Mark: Favorite things about maple season:
- Sunny/cold days
- The smell of sap being boiled
- Listening to and seeing the Sandhill Cranes migrating north (they fly in massive flocks over our area)
- Knowing that Spring is around the corner
Smoky Lake: From your perspective, what are the best ways we can honor and remember those service members who have given their lives for our country and our freedom?
Mark: To honor these heroes, I’d say some of the best ways to honor and remember them on Memorial Day include:
- Prayer (the big one)
- Obtaining and displaying a flag
- Visiting a national cemetery (we have one near Joliet, IL but I’m sure there’s probably one in WI).
- Encouraging the younger generation to volunteer for military service will pay dividends for us as a country and them as individuals.
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