DOWAGIAC — Adjusting a gold clip on his scarlet-colored tie Thursday afternoon, Paw Paw resident Matthew Cooper asked a handful of Dowagiac residents to remember the sacrifices that those who have served in the U.S. military have made.

“I’ve had people say to me that banks are more important than our military or our service men,” Cooper said. “I don’t believe that for a second. Our service members sacrifice, so that we can be safe. And with Memorial Day and Veterans Day coming up, it is more important than ever to remember that.”

Cooper, of the law firm Schuitmaker, Cooper and Cypher, P.C. out of Paw Paw, Michigan, presented to the Dowagiac Rotary Club Thursday afternoon, as the club members polished off a plate of chicken and dumplings.

Cooper is an accredited attorney with Veterans Affairs, who works to help veterans with disability applications, disability appeals, dependent and indemnity compensation, and discharge upgrades.

He is most recognizable for the work he did on landmark case Hurley v. Deutsche Bank, where he represented a veteran whose home was illegally foreclosed upon while he was serving overseas. The case, which Cooper’s client eventually won, resulted in congressional changes to how Service Members Civil Relief Act is applied. Now, Cooper has helped write a number of guides for judges all over the country to help them adhere to the Service Members Civil Relief Act. Cooper has additionally written two books, “A Soldiers Home” and “Making a Marine in the 21st Century.”

“We are very glad to have him here,” said Rotarian Mary Lou Franks. “I think his record speaks for itself.”

Cooper, who has visited the Dowagiac Rotary a number of times, said he was honored to be asked to present once again Thursday.

“Thank you so much for having me back at your club,” he said.

Cooper spent the most of his presentation talking about the Hurley case and how that case has defined his career. Since that case, through working with Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, he helped start a foundation to ensure the Service Members Civil Relief Act was properly applied.

“Try to put yourself in [Hurley’s] shoes. He came back from the war, and another family is living in his house — his dream house — and all his things are gone. When you go home tonight, think about all your stuff; your clothes, your books, your guns. Imagine all that being gone,” Cooper said. “That is wrong. … The Service Members Civil Relief Act protects those who protect us. That is important. I’m passionate about that.”

Cooper said he plans to continue with his work protecting the Service Members Civil Relief Act.

“I want to help any way I can,” he said.