Remembering Veterans on Saturday November 11

On Saturday, November 11, 2017, the United States will celebrate Veteran’s Day.  On Monday, May 29, 2017, the United States celebrated Memorial Day.  

Both holidays are dedicated to Veterans; Memorial Day is to honor those Veteran’s that have died in the service of their country, while Veteran’s Day honors all Veterans that have honorably served in the United States military, both in wartime and peacetime.  In fact, Veteran’s Day is largely intended to thank the living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contribution to our national security is appreciated, and to recognize the fact that all those who served, not only those who have died, have sacrificed and done their duty to keep America free.

The Clearwater County Veterans Memorial is dedicated to honor the Clearwater County Veterans that have died in the service to their country, and to also honor those Veterans that have served and are presently serving the United States.  The Veterans that died in service to their country during wartime are honored on the Memorial’s black marble monuments.  The Veterans that have served and are serving the United States are honored with the etched field stones that have been placed at the Memorial.  Presently, approximately 574 Veterans are presently honored with the etched field stones.

On the Saturday, September 2, 2017, there was a motorcycle ride that also honors the Veterans of Clearwater County.  This motorcycle ride was originated by, and continues to be promoted by Jeff Schermerhorn, Bagley, MN; a Vietnam Era Veteran.  The 2017 ride raised approximately $5,522 in donations.  These donations were donated to the Clearwater County Veterans Memorial to provide 28 etched field stones honoring Clearwater County Veterans.

The Clearwater County Veterans Memorial randomly selected 28 names from the combined list of Veteran’s names that are read at Memorial Day Ceremonies at Rice Lake, Bagley, Clearbrook and Gonvick (this list is comprised of the names of approximately 1760 deceased Clearwater County Veterans from the Spanish American War to the present).

The 28 Clearwater County Veterans randomly selected in 2017 are as follows:

FLOYD E. NELSON – US Army Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in the Bagley City Cemetery, Clearwater County, MN.  Floyd E. Nelson was a resident of the Bagley area. 

GREG JOSEPH HATCH – US Army Veteran that served during the Korean War Era, and is buried in Bagley City Cemetery, Clearwater County, MN.  Greg Joseph Hatch was a resident of the Bagley area. 

CARL ORVILLE SUNDERLAND – US Army Air Force Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Eddy Township, Clearwater County, MN.  Carl Orville Sunderland was a resident of the Eddy Township area. 

ROBERT JULIUS HAGEN – US Navy Veteran that served during the Vietnam War Era, and is buried in the state of Tennessee.  Robert Julius Hagen was a former resident of the Clearbrook area.

NORMAN A. ENGEN – US Army Veteran that served during the Korean War Era, and is buried in the Oak Park Cemetery, east of Weme, Clearwater County, MN.  Norman A. Engen was a resident of the Eddy Township area. 

LOUIS T. MORAVEC – US Army Air Force Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in the Our Lady of Victory Cemetery, Shevlin, Clearwater County, MN.  Louis T. Moravec was a resident of the Shevlin/Bagley area.

MICHAEL JOHN KAISER – US Air Force Veteran that served during the Cold War Era, and is buried in the St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Bagley, Clearwater County MN.  Michael John Kaiser was a resident of the Long Lake/Bagley area.

HARRY A. GORDON – US Army Veteran that served during the World War I Era, and is buried in the Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Hennepin County, MN.  Harry A. Gordon was a resident of the Shevlin area.

EMORY ALBERT SCHMIDT – US Army Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery, Eddy Township, Clearwater County, MN.  Emory Albert Schmidt was a resident of the Clearbrook area.

DAVID L. PAYNE – US Navy Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in the Norway Lake Cemetery, Holst Township, Clearwater County, MN.  David L. Payne was a resident of the Leonard area.

DALEN FREDRICK STEINKE – US Air Force Veteran that served during the Korean War/Cold War Era, and is buried in the Solway Cemetery, Beltrami County, MN. Dalen Fredrick Steinke was a resident of the Clearbrook area.

RALPH RAYMOND KUGEL – US Navy Veteran that served during the World War II Era.  Ralph Kugel served aboard the USS Colorado and was mortally wounded during combat action off Tinian Island, South Pacific, and died on July 25, 1944.  Ralph Kugel is buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, in Hawaii.  Ralph Raymond Kugel was a resident of the Bagley/Ebro area.

EUGENE WALTER TORGERSON – US Army Veteran that served during the Cold War Era, and is buried in the Clover Cemetery, Clover Township, Clearwater County, MN.  Eugene Walter Torgerson was a resident of the Clover Township area.

DONALD NELS NELSON – US Army Veteran that served during the Korean War Era, and is buried in St. Edwards Cemetery, Strandquist, MN.  Donald Nels Nelson was a former resident of the Bagley area.

OTIS E. HOLMQUIST -  US Navy Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in Nora Cemetery, Nora Township, Clearwater County, MN.  Otis E. Holmquist was a resident of the Nora Township area.

DAVID DELANO BROWN – US Air Force Veteran that served during the Cold War Era, and is buried in the Bagley City Cemetery, Bagley, Clearwater County, MN.  David Delano Brown was a resident of the Bagley area.

RAGNA BERG LEE – US Army Veteran that served in the Nurse Corps, prior to the World War II Era, and is buried in the Samhold Cemetery, Gonvick, Clearwater County, MN.  Ragna Berg Lee was a resident of the Gonvick area.

JOHN ALBERT HEDIN, JR. – US Merchant Marines Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery, southwest of Fosston, Polk County, MN.  John Albert Hedin, Jr. was a resident of the Gonvick area.

WILLIAM O. MURRAY -  US Army Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in St. Phillip’s Episcopal Cemetery, Rice Lake Community, La Prairie North Township, Clearwater County, MN.  William O. Murray was a resident of the Rice Lake Community area.

TOM QUALLEY – US Army Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in the Bagley City Cemetery, Bagley, Clearwater County, MN.  Tom Qualley was a resident of the Bagley area.

CARL EDWARD CARLSON – US Army Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in the Alida Cemetery, Bear Creek Township, MN.  Carl Edward Carlson was a former resident of the Alida area.

CLEVE  E. GOODWIN -  US Army Veteran that served during the World War II Era.  Cleve Goodwin died on October 8, 1944 in France, and is buried in the Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France.  Cleve E. Goodwin was a resident of the Ebro/Bagley area.

ELMER W. GULBRANSON -  US Army Veteran that served during the World War II Era, and is buried in Rice Lutheran Cemetery, Rice Township, Clearwater County, MN.  Elmer W. Gulbranson was a resident of the Zerkel area.

RICHARD D. KIHLSTADIUS -  US Army Veteran that served during the Vietnam War Era, and is buried in Augustana Cemetery, Pine Lake Township, Clearwater County, MN.  Richard D. Kihlstadius was a resident of the Clearbrook area.

BENJAMIN SLOAN -  US Army Veteran that served during the World War I Era, and is buried in the Bagley City Cemetery, Bagley, Clearwater County, MN.  Benjamin Sloan was a resident of the Bagley area.

LYLE THOR LUND -  US Air Force Veteran that served during the Korean War Era, and is buried in St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery, Trail, MN, Polk County, MN.  Lyle Thor Lund was a resident of the Gonvick area.

TYLER DUANE ERICKSON - US Marine Corps Veteran that served during the Middle East Conflicts Era.  Tyler Duane Erickson was a resident of the Bagley/Ebro area.

ALLEN ORDEAN KLONGERBO  - US Air Force Veteran that served during the Korean War Era, and is buried in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, at Camp Ripley, Morrison County, MN.  Allen Ordean Klongerbo was a former resident of Leonard, MN.

The Clearwater County Veterans Memorial sincerely thanks Jeff Schermerhorn for all of his efforts in staging the annual motorcycle ride, “RIDE FOR THE STONES”, and for the generous donation for the 28 Veteran’s Stones.  They would also like to thank all the merchants that supplied door prizes for the ride; and a sincere thank you to the Fireside Grill and Patio for their efforts in this worthy endeavor.  

Please visit the Clearwater County Veterans Memorial, in Bagley, MN, on Veterans Day and Memorial Day.  Freedom is not free; please remember those that served, and especially those that made the ultimate sacrifice, for the people of Clearwater County, the State of Minnesota, and the United States.

Art Tobkin 

Clearwater County 

Veterans Memorial