November | 2016
S lute VETERANS DAY 2016
Unlikely Allies
Fighting for veteran compensation and benefits
Quilts of Valor A labor of love, each quilt is put together by highly skilled volunteers
A publication of the Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal
PLUS!
+ Last Soldiers of War + Veteran Statistics + Local Service Heroes
A Veteran of our own…
Scott Hall, ReStore Manager
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CONTENTS ‘16
Staff
Features
06 12 22
PUBLISHER Pete Mohs
An Unlikely Ally
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Susie Alters
By Zach Kayser
Veterans don’t have to fight alone for their benefits. There are powerful people willing to help.
ART DIRECTOR Lisa Henry COPY EDITOR DeLynn Howard
Quilts Of Valor
MARKETING COORDINATOR Leo Miller
By Sarah Herron
Volunteers make quality quilts for individual veteran reception ceremonies.
ADVERTISING Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Publishing Media Consultants
Last Men Standing By Lisa Henry
The last official veterans of several American wars.
Also in this issue
Veterans Day............. 4 Veteran Stats at A Glance ....................5 Veteran facts and figures.
Battle of the Bulge Clarence Carlson (Left) and two soldiers from New York, McDonald and Radar on Nov. 1944 in Spa Belgium just days before they were warned by a lost straggler that the Germans surrounded them on three sides and the only opening was into the Andeunes Forest.
ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Andy Goble, Angela Hoefs, Cindy Spilman, Sue Stark CUSTOMER SERVICE Kori Flowers
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CONTACT US: Advertising@BrainerdDispatch.com (218) 855-5895 ATTN: Salute Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 974, Brainerd, MN 56401
To our readers,
The community should know that advertising spots for this publication filled up weeks before deadline. More proof of the amazing support from our businesses in the Brainerd lakes area. A special thank you to our loyal advertisers who make this project possible and photo submissions FREE of charge to the community.
Veterans Day Salute is an annual publication of the Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal. Printed by Forum Communications. Copyright© 2013 VOLUME 4, FALL 2016
It is publications like this that really highlight our lakes area community support and citizenship. Thank you to all who submitted photos of your dearly loved veterans. We are so very honored to be able to put together such a special publication. ~ Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal
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Veterans Day • Nov. 2016 3
VETERANS DAY
Branches of U.S. Military
Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day Veterans Day- Tribute to all veterans, living or deceased. Memorial Day- Tribute to those who lost their lives in combat. SOURCE: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-veterans
Army
Navy
Veterans Day Amendment Did you know?
Air Force
11-11-11
“Armistice Day” became a federal holiday in 1938 to honor soldiers in WWI. In 1954 it was amended and renamed “Veterans Day” to honor all U.S. service members .
Elevens
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
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The armistice agreement between Germans and Allied troops was signed in 1918 on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th hour. The agreement ended World War I after four years of continuous warfare.
Veterans Day • November, 2016
Erin Carlson and Rod Carlson, Navy.
VETERAN STATS AT A GLANCE 4.31 M
Total 369,149 Wartime Veterans Gulf War Vietnam Era
273,644 97,696 129,641
Korean Conflict
34,270
World War II
18,523
Peacetime 95,505 Female 25,607 Male 343,541
528,570
Number of Veterans Rated 100% Disabled (as of 6/30/16).
289,667
Number of Veterans Receiving VA Pension (as of 6/30/16).
847,000
Projected Number of Living WW II Veterans (as of 9/30/2015).
91%
9%
males
>
Minnesota Veterans
Number of Veterans Receiving VA Disability Compensation (as of 6/30/16).
females
21.7 million United States Veterans
According to the Veteran Data Pocket Card, the projected U.S. Veteran Population is 21,681,000; 2,035,000 females and 19,646,000 males.
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Veterans don’t have to fight alone for their benefits
AN UNLIKELY ALLY By Zach Kayser Feature Writer
T
When veterans have trouble getting benefits from government bureaucracies, they can turn to an
unlikely but effective ally: a different part of government. In the era of partisan gridlock, constituent services form a little-recognized area where lawmakers still effectively help their constituents.
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The offices of politicians like U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan have paid staffers whose job it is to help constituents navigate federal agencies. He’s one of 10 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate from U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan Minnesota. Although Minnesota’s delegation to Congress has both Republicans and Democrats in it, they all help veterans out for free, regardless of what party the veteran belongs to. So far in 2016, Nolan’s office resolved 176 cases that helped people deal with the Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. They helped veterans get more than $194,000 in VA benefits. The cases stretched across Nolan’s 8th Congres-
sional District, which extends from the northeastern corner of the state and the Canadian border through the southern edge of the Brainerd lakes area. In Crow Wing County, 48 veterans saw their cases resolved so far this year, together with 31 in Cass County and 15 in Aitkin County. Nolan said the number of veterans helped has been growing every
We Salute Our Veterans
“I called the Pentagon, and said ‘Find this man’s records one way or another.”’- Rick Nolan
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Thank you to all our Veteran’s for their Service to our Country and our people
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year as word spreads about the service available to veterans from his office. He said he takes pride in the effectiveness of his staff in fixing the problems veterans come to the office with -- in some cases, personally intervening to pressure agencies to speed things up. Although the identities of the veterans his office helps are confidential, he described his work with one veteran he left anonymous: a Marine who served in Vietnam but had his records lost by the government. He had been trying to get recognized as a veteran for decades to no avail. “Meanwhile, he’s not been able to access educational services, mental health services, VA benefits of any manner, shape or form,” he said. “Someone told him that my office and I were very good at this sort of thing. So he called, and … I called the Pentagon, and said ‘Find this man’s records one way or another.’” They found the records, proving the veteran had been telling the truth and giving him access to the
To all of our veterans and active-duty military, we thank you for your service.
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Veterans Day • November, 2016 7
benefits he deserved. Constituent services come in handy for veterans because oftentimes the servicemembers aren’t used to dealing with the inner workings of the VA or DOD and don’t know the right person to contact to get results when there’s a problem, Nolan said. By contrast, congressional staffers have developed a “good Rolodex” of established relationships with officials. “When issues arise, you don’t have to start from ground zero, like a constituent would,” he said.
State level
Although statelevel lawmakers have a more limited role in constituent services work because Sen. Paul the VA is a federal Gazelka agency, they can still help out constituent veterans that call them by giving advise, if not necessarily influence. Sen. Paul Gazelka, R-Nisswa, said there’s still work legislators can do in terms of bills at the Capitol in St. Paul -- for example, one that eliminates the income tax on veterans’ pensions, which was signed into law earlier this year. Gazelka and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Josh Heintzeman, carried the bill in their respective chambers of the LegJosh Heintzeman islature. They both pointed to it as examples of work they had done for veterans. Heintzeman said he also helps steer veterans toward the services they need when they ask him for information. “It’s kind of surprising how many 8
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Veterans Day • November, 2016
times I wind up getting questions on veterans services issues,” he said. Legislators only control the budgets for state agencies like the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, so they arguably don’t have as much leverage with federal agencies like the VA. However, like federal members of Congress, state legislators can use the weight of their titles to put some juice behind veterans’ complaints in order to inspire vets agencies to act. Still, it’s hard to know for sure if it was the outside scrutiny from lawmakers that was the breakthrough in a particular case. “In some cases we have had, miraculously … issues just all the sudden are being resolved,” Heintzeman said. “You’d like to think that the extra pressure that was brought on that issue from your office is the reason, but it’s difficult to say.” Minnesota provides a wide gamut of benefits to veterans, including tax benefits, help with federal VA health claims, education benefits, state-run nursing homes and burial options in state veterans cemeteries.
County level
Finally, an even more local level of people -- who can do casework for veterans -- is composed of VetBob Nelson erans Service Offices, run by the county. Minnesota is one of of only 29 states that have county-level veterans service offices. Bob Nelson, Crow Wing County Veterans Service Officer, said he and his staff can advocate for veterans when they deal with government agencies, free of charge.
State legislators can use the weight of their titles to put some juice behind veterans’ complaints in order to inspire vets agencies to act. “They can ask questions, they can get answers, they can query the system, test the waters, bounce ideas off us,” he said. The VSO is a separate organization than the VA, although they can access VA records. “We are advocates, we are not VA employees,” he said. Unlike constituent service workers, the VSO actually fills out paperwork on behalf of veterans, Nelson said.
Contact Information: U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan’s office: (218) 464-5095 https://nolan.house.gov/services/help-with-a-federal-agency MDVA: (651) 296-2562 http://mn.gov/mdva/ To search for which legislator leads a particular district and to find their contact information: https://www.leg.state.mn.us/ Crow Wing County Veterans Service Office: (218) 824-1058 Office: 204 Laurel St., Brainerd (First Floor) Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Mark Persons Army Served in Vietnam 1968-1969
Lloyd Knapp Army Deceased June 2013
Dale Monson Navy Served in WWII 1944-1945
James Sipper Marines Seved in Iraq 2011-2014
Earl D. Johnson Served in Korea and Vietnam 1954-1958
Timothy Johnson 1982-1986 Deceased 06/16/2012
Michael C. Anderson Army
Cecil E. Anderson Army Deceased 09/25/1984
Donald H. Bode Marines 22 years, 3 tours in Vietnam Deceased 1/13/2015
Donald D. Wermter Marines Served in Vietnam 1965-1969
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Dr. Paul Davis Army 1997-2002
Richard P. Klein Navy 1948-1952
Danny Price Marines 1973-1977
Bruce G. Lapka Navy 1968-1972
Jeff Volkl Marines 1989-1993
Lloyd Handeland Army Served in WWII
Jason Price Marines & Army Guards 1997-2003; 2003-2005
LeRoy Siegel Army Served in Korea Deceased 1/8/1995
Kerry L. Whirley Army Served in Vietnam Deceased 8/30/2008
Jack D. Enfield Army Served in Korea Deceased 12/2/2012
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE & SACRIFICE
For all that you are and all that you’ve given to our country, we salute you, veterans. Thank you for protecting our freedom at home and overseas. Your service and your sacrifice will always be remembered. With gratitude, we honor America’s veterans and military personnel.
www.hytecconstruction.com (218) 829-8529 • BRAINERD, MN
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Commercial and Residential Construction Architects and General Contractors
Dale L. Van Horn Navy 1965-1969
Dale G. Van Horn Navy, Army 1988-1992
Gerald Hoefs Army Served in WWII Deceased 11/12/2011
Duane Hoefs Army 1970-1972
Art Nystrom Army Air Force Served in WWI
Bryan L. Martinsen Army Reserves 2008-2015
Clifford C. Hansen Army Air Corps Served in WWII Deceased 11/6/14
Raymond R. Goerlich Marines
Robert P. Cook Army Air Corps Served in WWII Deceased 10/3/1987
Josh Miller National Gaurd 2004-2005
With Respect, Honor and Gratitude
Freedom is not free.
THANK YOU 001479196r1
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Veterans Day • November, 2016 11
Quilts
OF
Valor
By Sarah Herron Feature Writer
“T
he dream was as vivid as real life. I saw a young man sitting on the side of his bed in the middle of the night, hunched over. The permeating feeling was one of utter despair. I could see his war demons clustered around, dragging him down into an emotional gutter. Then, as if viewing a movie, I saw him in the next scene wrapped in a quilt. His whole demeanor changed from one of despair to one of hope and well-being. The quilt had made this dramatic change. The message of my dream was:
Catherine Roberts, Founder of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.
QUILTS = HEALING” -Founder of the Quilts of Valor Foundation, Catherine Roberts, in 2003.
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SS lute VeteransDay Day• •November, November,2016 2016 lute Veterans
Honoring All the Men and Women Who Have Selflessly Served Our Country
16603 State Hwy 371 North, Brainerd/Baxter (Just North of the Pine Beach Rd)
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Happy Veterans Day!
schroedersappliance.com • 218-829-3624
We join all of America in celebrating the endearing principles on which our nation was founded. We proudly salute the men and women of our Armed Forces, along with their families, who defend those principles with courage and honor.
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The Quilts of Valor Foundation (QOVF) has found a way to show our veterans’ gratitude for their service in an authentic and completely selfless way. Their mission is “to cover service members and veterans, touched by war, with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor (QOV).” Marcia Stevens is one of these selfless volunteers. In 2004, she launched a Brainerd QOV group. This group has presented over 3,400 quilts since they began. These are not just some “charity quilts” either; these are quality-made quilts that come labeled as such and are presented in a matching pillowcase along with a letter of gratitude for the recipient. The Brainerd QOV group meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at Country Fabrics on South Sixth Street. The volunteers cut the fabric and create kits for each quilt, which sewers are able to bring home to piece together. The quilts then go out to volunteer machine quilters and back to Country Fabrics for the finishing touches. Stevens estimates that each one takes about 50-60 hours to create — fifty to sixty hours, on one quilt, to show their appreciation to those that served our country. The amount of
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Veterans Day • November, 2016 13
Photos by Pete Mohs
(Left to Right), Carol Nelson, Jan Strobel & Linda Forsyth. (Left to Right) Dianne Wermager, Jan Strobel, Sue Carroll, Marcia Stevens, Carol Nelson and Linda Forsythe hold up a quilt that is being worked on.
time the volunteers spend on this cause is phenomenal, but this process is not done without a ton of help from the community, too. Deb Burton, owner of Country Fabrics, welcomes the QOV of Brainerd to her shop and provides them enough space to make the quilts and store their quilting supplies.
She also helps raise funds for the group in a number of ways. The Marcia spoke about the fabrics used for the quilts are privolunteers’ dedication: marily donated from members of the community and monetary donations help purchase additional materials. As one volunteer said, “The community is essential to this project’s success and we are deeply grateful for all of the generosity.” The quilts the team in Brainerd make are distributed between over a dozen different locations such as VA hospitals, familyassistance centers, requests and, since last November, numerous individual St. Croix Hospice. The partnership
Country Fabrics on South Sixth Street, Brainerd.
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Veterans Day Day •• November, November, 2016 2016 lute Veterans SS lute
“When I call out for ‘all hands on deck’ because we have requests for 20 quilts, I’ve got them a week later!”
PINE RIVER AMERICAN LEGION 218-587-9151 • Hwy. 371, Pine River Open at Noon Monday-Sunday
HAPPY HOUR
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Monday-Friday • 4-6pm Monday-Saturday
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Dianne Wermager attaching the QOV label.
between the St. Croix Hospice and the QOV group of Brainerd has been a blessing for all involved. The goal is to honor the veteran patients at St. Croix Hospice and to present each one with a quilt. When a Quilt of Valor is presented at St. Croix Hospice, the family
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Photos by Lisa Henry
This past July, Brainerd QOV and St. Croix Hospice Care partnered together to honor their dedicated volunteers with a Volunteers Appreciation Luncheon.
Above: Each quilt is labeled as a Quilt of Valor. Right: St. Croix Hospice Chaplain Major Randall Miller (center), who has presented several of the quilts to veterans, was presented with a quilt by Veteran Volunteer Gary Mitchell (left), and St. Croix Hospice Chaplain Zach O’Neel.
and caregivers organize a ceremony. The ceremony includes the quilt presentation by a veteran volunteer to the patient. A music therapist will lead the singing of patriotic songs such as “America the Beautiful” and “The Star Spangled Banner.” Letters of recognition from the quilters and St. Croix Hospice staff are read along with words of gratitude the attendees are invited to share with their loved 16 16
SS lute Veterans Day Day •• November, November, 2016 2016 lute Veterans
“We are stitched together, the fabric of this nation, and, in my opinion, there is no better way to show this than with a Quilt of Valor.” - Chaplain Major Randall Miller.
one. Afterwards, a chaplain will close in prayer and then a brief reception with coffee and cake is held. One of the female veteran patients stated, “The Quilts of Valor Foundation is doing remarkable work in honoring our country’s veterans. This is truly the first time I have received such an honor for my years of service.” Another veteran stated: “My quilt means more than a medal to me; it’s
a labor of love and I feel that love when I use my quilt.” These presentations are also very meaningful to the families of these veterans. For some it is the first time they have heard their loved ones speak openly about their time in service. A granddaughter of one gentleman veteran said, “I always knew he was a great grandfather. Now I know he’s a hero, too.” .
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A very heartfelt thank you to our veterans and their families.
- QOV recipient quotes
“This is truly the first time I have received such an honor for my years of service.” “My quilt means more than a medal to me; it’s a labor of love and I feel that love when I use my quilt.”
From the staff at Martin’s Sport Shop in Nisswa.
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“The Quilts of Valor Foundation is doing remarkable work in honoring our country’s veterans.”
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218-963-2341 • martins@nisswa.net OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Hours: Monday-Friday 9-9pm; Saturday 9-6pm; Sunday 10-4pm
Located on Main Street in Nisswa
We honor your service.
For more information on the Quilts of Valor Foundation visit www.qov.org 218-568-8069 | www.pequottool.com | Pequot Lakes, Minnesota
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Kenneth C. Micko Army Air Corps 1943-1945
Frank W. Culbertson Navy 1964-1966
Richard Rezanka Army Served in WWI 1917-1918 Deceased 8/2/1990
Richard B. Rezanka Air Force Served in WWII 1943-1945 Deceased 3/23/1992
Duane Blanck Marine Corps 1960-1963
Ed “Dutch” Anderson Navy 1945-1948
Philip W Selisker Army Served in WWII Deceased 5/11/2014
Paul H. Nieman, Sr. Army Served in WWI Deceased 10/28/1984
Richard Tappe Air Force Deceased 7/7/2008
Clarence S. Carlson 1st Army Served in WWII 1943-1945
Gary H. Peterson Army Airborn 1953-1973
Donald C. Zitur, Sr. Army & Air Force Served in WWII 1940-1944
Margery Heino Navy 1970-1974
Bradley Heino Navy 1972-1980
Steve Tusa Army Deceased 5/21/2016
CROW WING
2000 13TH STREET S.E., BRAINERD, MN 56401 18 18
COUNTY FAIR
Veterans Day Day •• November November,2016 2016 SS lute lute Veterans
218-829-6680 | 218-838-9671 CROWWINGCOUNTYFAIR.COM
6967 Lake Forest Road • Baxter, MN 56425
218-822-5634 • arrowwoodbrainerd.com
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HONORING ALL WHO SERVED
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VETERANS DAY
Delno W. Carlton Marines Served in WWII
Timothy Melin Army
Dennis Ottem Army 1956
Joseph F. Cronin Army Served in Vietnam
Veterans
Kyle Carner Army Served in Iraq 2007-2015
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Dear DearVeterans, Veterans, Veterans, Thanks our Thanksfor fordecorating decoratingour our for decorating worldwith withhonor honor&&& world with honor fighting forour ourfreedom! freedom! fightingfor for our fighting freedom!
Jack Marshall Navy 1942-1945 Deceased Nov. 2014
Charles B Cronin Army Served in WWII
Thank You Veterans, We Salute You! Chem Dry of The Lakes
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Veterans Salute Ad, submitted Oct 9, please scale down to Veterans Salute Ad, submitted Octif 9, please down to correct size(4”, see Linda Hurst), too muchscale print, please correct size(4”, Linda Hurst), if too much alter to scale & okseecopy with me. Thank you!print, please alter to scale & ok copy with me. Thank you! Danae Ad, submitted Oct 9, please scale down to Salute Danae
Serving Crow Wing, Aitkin, Morrison, Todd & Southern Cass Counties
Bill LaTour Marines
Anton Mogensen Navy 1943-1967
Laurie Dally Army Reserves 1981-2006
Ken Solom Navy 1960-1966
Dennis G. Havel Army Served in Vietnam 1967-1968
Jackson Knapp Marines 2016
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Alan Marshall Air Force 1967-1971
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Steven Kuhn Army Deceased 4/24/1999
THANK YOU
VeteransDay Day• •November, November2016 2016 luteVeterans SSlute
19
Nellie Karsten Navy Served in WWII 1944
David Davis Air Force 1985-2012
Melvin Christensen Navy Served in WWII
Raymond Olson Army Served in Korea 1953-1955
Harry Nysather Marines 1952-1954 Deceased 7/8/2006
Loren E. Smart Marines Served in Vietnam, 1969 Deceased 7/15/2012
Edgar L. Frasl Army
Nicholas R. Ogborn Army National Guard
Roland Larson Army Deceased July 2015
Joe Fitterer Marines
Ken Kramer Army
LaVerne Borg Army
Kevin Goedker Marines
Shawn Thayer Army
Dennis Ostrom Navy Deceased 7/15/2016
Thank you Veterans for your service!
Ken Kramer
Laverne Borg
Associate Broker/REALTOR®
Associate Broker/REALTOR®
ARMY
ARMY
1965-1971
Kevin Goedker
Joe Fitterer
Associate Broker/REALTOR®
Associate Broker/REALTOR®
MARINES
MARINES
1990-1995
1963-1965
14391 Edgewood Dr. | Baxter, MN 56425 www.C21Brainerd.com | (218) 829-2222 20
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1967-1974
Sean D. Deist Marines 2000-2004
John E. Munson Army Served in WWI
Joseph Grenier Army
Richard Cameron Sr. Army Air Corps Deceased 3/12/2003
Howard Ducette Army
Clifford Barto Merchant Marines & Army 1944-1950, 1950-1952
Alvie Norr Army Deceased 5/6/2016
Gilbert Lowe Army Airforce Served in WWII Deceased 12/25/1983
Michael Lowe Airforce 1970-1974
LaVerne “Skip” Lowe Army Served in Vietnam
Brainerd Elks #615 215 S. 9th Street, Brainerd 829-2643 after 3pm
“So Long As Th
ere A
re Ve
terans,
The B en
tA ovol en
rote nd P
ctive Order Of Elks W
ill N
e ve r
Forge
In 1907, the BPO Elks Grand Lodge designated by resolution June 14 as Flag Day, Mandating Observation was adopted by every lodge in 1911.
t Them”
Community Interests:
Every other month a visit to St. Cloud Veteran’s Hospital to play BINGO Free dinners every Tuesday night for Central Lakes College enrolled Veterans and their families September thru May Participate in the Disabled Veterans Turkey Hunt and the Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt at Camp Ripley Provide Materials to the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) Donate to Wreaths for the Fallen Offer a free week of camp to 9-13 year old children of deployed soldiers at the MN Elks Youth Camp during Troops Week
Become a Member! Learn How, Visit www.brainerdelks.org
Thank You Veterans For Your Service To Our Country So We May Enjoy Our Freedom! www.brainerdelks.org
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Veterans Day • November, 2016 21
T
LAST MEN STANDING Compilation By Lisa Henry
hese men are the official last survivers of America’s Principle wars. With the perseverance of a true soldier, most lived well past 100 years, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Daniel Bakeman, Rev. War 10/9/1759 – 4/5/1869 109 years
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Hiram Cronk, War of 1812 4/29/1800 – 5/13/1905 105 years
Fredrak Fraske, Indian Wars 3/8/1872 – 6/18/1973 101 years
Revolutionary War
War of 1812
Daniel Frederick Bakeman is the last recorded pensioned soldier of the Revolutionary War. Congress had to pass a special act to grant Bakeman War pension because he couldn’t prove his service. Others who could potentially hold the title include Samuel Downing on the pension roll, and George Fruits who served, but wasn’t receiving War pension.
Hiram Cronk’’s passing was considered by many to be truly the end of an era. Cronk lived throughout the entire 19th century became somewhat famous after turning 100. Cronk was featured in numerous newspaper articles as well as adds promoting Duffy’s Pure Malt Whiskey.
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Veterans Day • November, 2016
Chief Iron Hail, Indian Wars 1858 – 1955 96 years
Indian Wars Fredrak Fraske, also spelled Frederick on his headstone at St. Adalbert Catholic Cemetery, Niles, Ill., on the American Wars Fact Sheet as the last surviving veteran of the Indian Wars. Not found on the Fact Sheet, but agreed to be the last known native to survive was Dewey Beard a.k.a. Chief Iron Hail.
Frank Buckles, WWI 2/1/1901 – 2/272011 110 years
World War I
Owen Edgar Mexiacn War 6/17/1831 – 9/3/1929 98 years
Frank Buckles tops the list not only for being the last recorded United States Army soldier in WWI, but also for being the oldest surviving War veteran to date. Buckles celebrated his 110th birthday just weeks before passing away on February 27, 2011.
SIDE NOTE: According to many historians, there is some conflict as to who is the actual last surviving veteran of many older wars because records were sometimes skewed by missing information or falsified information to gain entry into the army. Sources: www.va.gov, America’s Wars Fact Sheet, Findgrave.com, Wikipedia.
Albert Woolson Civil War, Union 2/11/1850 – 8/2/1956 109 years
Mexican War
Owen Thomas Edgar, is recorded as the longest surviving U.S. veteran of the Mexican-American War. Edgar was an Apprentice First Class in the Navy and served aboard numerous frigates.
COL. Plaesant “Riggs” Crump Civil War, Confederate 12/23/1847 – 12/31/1951 104 years
Civil War
Incontestably, Albert Henry Woolson, Union soldier in the Civil War, was the last surviving soldier of not only the Unite States Union Army, but also the last veteran of the entire Civil War. COL. Plaesant “Riggs” Crump was the official last Cenfederate.
Dear Veterans, We salute you and honor all who have served our country. We pause to remember and give thanks. 001484117r1
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Veterans Day • November, 2016 23
Daniel Lowe Army 1970-2005
Alan Eugene McPeek Army Deceased: 2/2/2007
David Smith Army
Jeff Knapp Marines 2008-2012
Tim Volkmuth Navy 1969-2006
David L. Youngblood Air Force 1999
Roy Schellin Air Force 1942-1945 Deceased 3/6/2012
Gerald Goering Army 1964-1967 Deceased 6/19/2016
Don Stehr Army 1968-1971
Duane A. Roberts Marines Served in WWII Deceased 2/18/2015
THANK YOU
VETERANS AND FAMILIES Dondelinger Auto Supports Our Past & Current Military With Special Offers From Chevrolet & Hyundai.
www.dondelingerauto.com | 218-829-4787 • 800-642-1566 24
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Veterans Day • November, 2016
Leo J. Furnstohl Marines 1954-1975
Charles R Johnson Army Served in Korea 1951-1953 Deceased 2010
Howard “Jiggs” Blanck Army 1956-1958 Deceased 12/01/2009
Kevin Kiehlbauch Army 1976-1982
Milton Munson Navy Served in WWII 1942-1945 Deceased June 1977
Rev. Paul Fruth 1960-1966
Donald Pederson Army 1970-1972
Gilbert Bittner Marines Served in Korea Deceased 12/28/2014
Oscar Marsch Army Served in WWI
Eugene Munson Navy Served in WWII
To All our Veteran's Thank you for your Service and Commitment to our Freedom!
Walker, Akeley, Longville, Remer, Hackensack Backus, Pequot Lakes, Crosslake, Baxter
Honoring Our Nations Heroes! Thank you to our Veteran’s & their families!
Jenkins
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VFW NORTHERN POST 3839 Kitchen Open Tuesday - Sunday 5 - 8pm
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Veterans Day • November, 2016 25
Bob Hjelm, Fred Johnson and Smoky Holmvig- Navy, 1954.
Gunnie Freden Navy Served in WWII
Curtis Kackman Marines, Vietnam Deceased 12/15/2009
Celebrating
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Those Who Served
Crosby, MN | 218-546-2100 l www.graphicpkg.com
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Veterans Day • November, 2016
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Michael G Palmer Army, WWII; Deceased 2/19/2004
John Paul Myers Navy 1945-1946
Robert G. Hurst Korean War 1951-1954 1st Calvary Division
HONORING ALL WHO SERVED! 218.829.3597
TANNER NISSAN 218.829.1465
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