ESCANABA — The Escanaba Vet Center invites veterans, active duty service members, their families and any interested community members to an open house event Friday celebrating the 40th anniversary of the program.

Opening ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern time, with some veteran services on hand for questions.

Public Law 96-22 was signed on June 13, 1979, establishing the Vet Centers within the Department of Veterans Affairs in response to Vietnam combat and era veterans not accessing VA services at the same levels as Korean and World War II veterans.

Today, 300 Vet Centers and 80 Mobile Vet Centers provide community-based counseling for a wide range of social and psychological services, including confidential readjustment counseling, outreach and referral to eligible veterans and active duty service members, including National Guard and Reserve components and their families. Individual, group, marriage and family counseling are offered in addition to referral and connection to other VA or community benefits and services at no cost. Vet Center counselors and outreach staff, many of whom are veterans themselves, are experienced and prepared to discuss the tragedies of war, loss, grief and transition after trauma.

Escanaba Vet Center is at 3500 Ludington St.