Courtesy Photo Stephen Precour is seen in his Army gear during the Vietnam War. The Alpena veteran now volunteers for Hospice, helping other veterans.

ALPENA — Vietnam veteran Stephen Precour has been volunteering with the veterans-to-veterans program through Hospice of Michigan for two years, and he said it is very rewarding.

Precour, of Alpena, served as an E5 sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War in 1967 and 1968.

At 77 years old, Precour serves as a Hospice of Michigan volunteer, visiting veterans at the end-of-life to bring them comfort, camaraderie, and a deep sense of recognition.

“I’m a veteran, and there are a lot of veterans out there, and I’ve found out that it’s very rewarding, not only for me, but for them, because there are a lot of veterans that don’t get a lot of company, especially if they’re in a facility,” Precour said.

Since signing up to volunteer two years ago, Precour has embraced it wholeheartedly, even recruiting his brother-in-law and several church members to join him in this important work. Stephen visits patients each week, bringing a light to their lives that he finds as fulfilling as they do.

“We don’t always talk about the service or what we did,” Precour explained. “Sometimes we do, but other times it’s just talking about other things — the economy, the weather, grandkids.”

As a fellow veteran, Precour’s presence alone can lift spirits. He talks with patients about their military experiences, jobs they’ve held, and sometimes, just the weather–simple exchanges that create an invaluable sense of connection.

“We can talk,” Precour said. “We don’t have to be afraid of what we’re saying to each other. Some of these veterans are World War II. We ask them if there are any stories they’d like to share with us … They’re all appreciative.”

In his two years as a volunteer, Precour has attended 14 veteran pinning ceremonies to honor their service, a powerful reminder of their shared dedication and sacrifice.

“We have what we call a pinning ceremony for veterans,” Precour said. “We give them a little citation, and a flag with their branch of service, a small American flag. And I make up little plaques … They’re moving. There’s a lot of times the veterans have tears in their eyes when we leave.”

His goal is to help veterans feel acknowledged, valued, and seen, and he believes there’s no more rewarding way to spend his time.

“As long as I can do it, I’m going to keep volunteering,” he said, encouraging others to join him, adding, “It’s the most rewarding thing you’ll ever do.”

He added that he wishes he started sooner.

“I never thought I could do this,” Precour said of volunteering with Hospice. “But then, after a couple of meetings and a little bit of training, I look forward to my week … You get to know these people … It’s something you don’t want to give up. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I wish I’d started a long time ago.”

He encourages other veterans to look into volunteering.

“The Hospice people always need help. They’re always ready to take in volunteers,” he added. “When you can go out and touch somebody else’s life, when they’re getting toward the end of their life, it’s just meaningful.”

Kathy Lietaert, volunteer program director for Hospice of Michigan, said volunteers like Precour are invaluable.

“We recruit veterans to visit our veteran patients who are in Hospice care,” Lietaert said.

She said Precour does an excellent job.

“He’s just wonderful,” Lietaert said. “He’s warm. He knows exactly what to do.”

For more information, call local Hospice volunteer coordinator Kristie Lukes at 989-590-4222.