When Gabe Kohn was asked why he joined the service, he said, “I’ve always been a patriotic person and knew that serving my country would be something I’d want to do one day.” That patriotism has taken him on a journey that has been good for both him and our country. Kohn is a staff sergeant with the 8th Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air Force. He has been stationed in South Korea … [Read more...]
Thanks for your service, Brandi Mayer
On Veterans Day, as you think about those who have served our country, you may think of the thousands of headstones in Arlington National Cemetery. You may conjure up a stereotypical image of an elderly soldier who fought in Korea or Vietnam. You may think of someone who’s taken an Honor Flight to Washington, DC. Those are all valid images, but there are other examples, and … [Read more...]
New veterans memorial honors veterans in Fountain
“I think practically every town around here has a memorial, and I thought Fountain should have one too,” Fountain resident and military veteran Larry Hunt remarked. When Hunt first came up with the idea of constructing a veterans memorial in Fountain, he approached the city council about it. They agreed that the city should have one to recognize and honor military … [Read more...]
Local veteran goes on the trip of his lifetime
By Annette and Deb, daughters of Art Callanan What started out as our family working together to get dad the Ambassador of Peace medal for his humanitarian efforts during the Korean War, turned into a trip of his lifetime. He was able to go on the Honor Flight on October 10, 2017. On Sunday, October 8, 2017, we were able to surprise dad at a sendoff lunch at Baker’s … [Read more...]
Economic impact of a veterans home in Fillmore County
The effort to have a veterans home built in Fillmore County has been ongoing for more than three years. Committees co-chaired by Don Gildner in Preston and Bill Rohe in Spring Valley know the road ahead will be a long and challenging one, but well worth the effort. A study was completed which demonstrated the need. There are about 23,000 veterans over the age of 65 within a … [Read more...]
Lanesboro sailor continues 74 years of Seabee tradition
GULFPORT, MS - “We Build, We Fight” has been the motto of the U. S. Navy’s Construction Force, known as the “Seabees,” for the past 74 years. Today, Lanesboro, Minn., native and a 2010 Lanesboro High School graduate Petty Officer 3rd Class Benjamin Hungerholt builds and fights with the Navy on the Gulf Coast and around the world as a member of the Navy serving at Naval … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Our community, our youth, and our Veterans
This past week, on Veterans Day, my wife and I attended the Veterans Day program at 1 p.m. at the Fillmore Central Elementary School in Preston. We both had the honor of observing something special. As the Fillmore Central students from second grade through sixth grade gathered in the large gymnasium of the school, they were blessed with the presence of the color guard … [Read more...]
How to show appreciation for military personnel
Military personnel are unsung heroes whose sacrifices for their country make it possible for hundreds of millions of people to enjoy freedoms that many people across the globe do not have. In recognition of those sacrifices, many people want to show their appreciation to both active and retired servicemen and women. Fortunately, there are many ways to do just that. • Pitch … [Read more...]
Wykoff dedicates new Veterans Memorial Park
It’s a project that’s been over two years in the making. Wykoff resident Harvey Schmidt knew he wanted to create a Veterans Memorial in Wykoff and so, in 2014, he formed the Wykoff Veterans Memorial Committee, which included Mike Holzer, who served as co-chair with Schmidt, Mark Anderson, LuAnn Hare, Lynn Kidd, Cheyanne Baker, John Baker, Ross Heusinkveld, Lyle Crowson, and … [Read more...]
Veterans Day facts and figures
Veterans Day, once known as Armistice Day, was first celebrated on November 11, 1919, the anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1928, the United States Congress passed a resolution for Armistice Day to be an annual observation, and by 1938, the day became a national holiday. Differing from Memorial Day in May, Armistice Day, which would be renamed Veterans Day in 1954 … [Read more...]