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www.thelandonline.com — “Where Farm and Family Meet”
THE LAND — NOVEMBER 13/NOVEMBER 20, 2020
This week’s Back Roads is the work of The Land Managing Editor Paul Malchow.
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A 21st century salute
any towns honor their veterans with memorials of one kind or another. Some incorporate a retired piece of army equipment, others feature a statue. But few can match the gleaming modern display in Butterfield, Minn. Designers of the Butterfield monument incorporated plastics, LED lighting and computerized plasma-cut steel to fashion a striking and dignified tribute to those who served. Jeremy Hall, a metal fabrication artist and welding instructor, did much of the monument’s fine work and gave the ‘nickel tour’ of the site this fall. But it was two widows who put the whole project in motion. June Witte and Mary Schulte both had husbands in the service. Two years ago they organized a committee to erect a veterans’ memorial in Butterfield’s city park. Butterfield has a VFW post, but no hall or meeting place to give veterans a physical presence. “There were a lot of fund raisers,” admitted Hall, “pork chop dinners, a pancake breakfast, silent auctions.” A steel three-dimensional outline of the state of Minnesota is the dominant feature of the memorial. An American flag made out of translucent plastic covers the state. LED lights are under the plastic which illuminates the flag sculpture at night. Written on the red stripes of the flag is, “Honoring All Who Served. All Gave Some … Some Gave All…”
“At night it looks pretty neat,” said Hall. Two benches face the Minnesota/flag centerpiece. The backs of the benches feature detailed metal work honoring June and Mary’s spouses. “I had done quite a few of these,” Hall said. “June wanted an eagle and a flag. Gus (Schulte) had a trucking business and Mary wanted something to do with that.” A number of short columns ring the Minnesota outline. On each column is room for plaques. Each plaque has a veteran’s name, branch and dates of service. Family members and friends of veterans purchased the plaques to help defray costs. “Some of the soldiers lived here,” explained Hall. “Some grew up here, went into the service and moved elsewhere. Three of our more prominent veterans are Ed Wentzlaff, who survived the attack at Pearl Harbor; Bruce Langdon, who was a hostage in Iran; and Donald Larson who started the VFW post.” A separate set of plaques are mounted on the state centerpiece honoring those who lost their lives while serving their country. “We planned to do a dedication,” said Hall, “but Covid closed it down.” Donations and veterans’ names continue to be accepted for the monument. Anyone interested should contact Mary Schulte at (507) 956-5311. v
Butterfield, Minn.
