Military veterans honored at November 11 program
Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11, and it honors military veterans. The people who served in the United States Armed Forces were honored last Wednesday. A Veterans Day program was held at the Clearbrook-Gonvick School with the Clearbrook American Legion in charge of the program. Armistice Day and Remembrance Day is celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I which ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. The U.S. holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service.
National Veterans Day Ceremony is held each year at Arlington National Cemetery with the wreath lying at the Tomb of the Unknowns at 11:00 a.m. and then continues on with a program.
Kay Vettleson gave the introduction with the presentation of colors by the Clearbrook American Legion Post 256. The Pledge of Allegiance was said and the National Anthem by the Clearbrook-Gonvick High School Band with Mrs. Katrina Stewart the director.
Jeff Burgess, Principal at Clearbrook-Gonvick gave the welcome.
Bill Stoller Commander Master Chief United States Navy retired and Commander of the Clearbrook American Legion Post gave recognition of local area veterans that were killed in action.
He named all of the veterans that were in attendance at the program:
Army: Ken Brein, Larry Shelquist, John Brendalen, Duane Johnson, Jerry Wraa, Frank Bergh, Larry Djernes, Frank Buer, Lowell Stevens, Lloyd Engen, Gordon Sharp, Dennis Johnson, Dan Gazelka, Wayne Henrichs, Marvin Wolden, Ordean Erickson, Lonny Walters and Ordean Swanson.
Air Force: Dylan Goudge, Paula Boomgaarden, and Brady Lene.
Marines/Navy: Kermit Kjolhaug, Vernon Lussier, Tom Anderson, Russ Lembke, Muriel Halvorson, Gerald Wraa, Blake Peterson, LeRoy Sundquist, Alfred Knutson, Darrell Engebretson, Reuben Rydeen, Pat Hammer and Harry Hutchens.
He also recognized the Gold Star Mother Eleanor Sundquist who was not able to attend and Beulah Richards the Gold Star Wife.
Some of the Clearbrook-Gonvick Kindergarten and first graders presented a song that was enjoyed by the many who attended the event. The words include "We Love Veterans" and "Thank you for your Service."
The Kindergarten through sixth grades had readings about, Veterans, Remember, Tribute, Liberty, Protect, Brave, Defend, Freedom, Valor, Courage, Honor, Sacrifice and Respect.
The high school band played the "Liberty Bell March" before Kay Vettleson introduced the guest speakers.
Dylan Goudge was the first speaker. After high school, he talked with his father Jim, and he said he had four choices. What were they? He said, "Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine and you can pick one." He entered the Air Force in May of 1997. He wanted to do his part for his country, get an education and to travel. He had many family members who had served in the military.
He was part of the Security Forces on several military bases around the world.
He did get to travel as he was stationed in Okinawa Japan at Kadena Air Base; Diego Garcia south of India in the central Indian Ocean; Osan Air Base south of Seoul, Korea; Anderson Air Force Base on the island of Guam. This last tour was at Ellsworth Air Force Base at Rapid City South Dakota. From there he was sent on deployments to Saudi Arabia for the Operation Southern Watch. After that he was able to go on R and R to Germany and Italy. He said it was an honor to serve his country. He also thanked those who are still serving and their families.
Paula Boomgaarden was the second speaker. She was in the Air Force from 1984 to 1988. She was a Russian Linguist assigned to Berlin, Germany. She could not say much about her job but she told about her experiences. She did what she needed to do.
Her Dutch parents survived World War II but they did not have it very easy. Her father was taken as a Prisoner of War and sent to Germany on May 13, 1942 from Holland. He survived the camp but came home after the war at 96 pounds. Her mother worked with the Dutch Resistance Fighters. She would deliver messages to various groups. She said she did not read them as then she could not give up any information that she did not know if she was ever captured.
Freedom comes with a price and that is what brought Paula to become a linguist. Being in Berlin with the wall around it was known as the City of Spies. For those who know history during the Cold War, Berlin was the capital of espionage which continued until the wall came down in 1989. It was a walled outpost of freedom behind the Iron Curtain.
Paula was able to leave Berlin on the American Duty Train from Berlin through East Germany to Frankfurt. That train had the lower priority on the tracks and every other train had the right to go first. It took 14 hours which should have taken three to four hours. The train had only one bathroom. In the daylight they noticed that there were mountains and there are no mountains in East Germany. The train had taken a different route and terrorists wanted to blow up the train. They blew up their own mail train instead.She learned that the price of freedom isn’t free but for all students to support the veterans.
Dan Gazelka – While the other two were talking he was observing students. They were very attentive and he went on to say that veterans see things differently. He was in basic training for the infantry with weapons and explosives in Fort Benning, GA. on 9/11 when the twin towers in New York City were hit by terrorist’s steering two planes. He was sent to Bosnia and Iraq.
Dan went on to say that one thing we are all given and can’t get back is our life. It can be taken from you. You have a set amount of time. One should have an idea in life as to what we want to accomplish.
There are three things that are important to him, duty, honor and county. He didn’t realize until he was in the military that everyone is not free. When he looks at the American flag he is reminded of two friends that did not come back from Iraq. They sacrificed so that we could all be free today.
He spoke about how good we have it in America when we turn on a water faucet and water comes out. Not when he was in Iraq. He thought it would be a good idea for people to visit a third world country where the quality of life is not as good as we have it. Military people spend time away from their family so that we have a right to a good life.
After the retiring of the colors veterans, guests and teachers were invited to coffee and donuts in the commons area served by the American Legion Auxiliary and the Clearbrook-Gonvick School Food Service.
Students from the school visited with the veterans who were present, asking questions about their service. Elementary students had written letters to veterans that were passed during this time as well.
Comments from the community were that Veteran’s Day program for Clearbrook and Gonvick was well done.