From My Farmhouse Kitchen

FROM MY FARMHOUSE KITCHEN By Renae B. Vander Schaaf

It was a sunny day in the museum was, I was August. The type of day when thankful for the strategically all of life is bright and care- placed signs to guide me free when we took this morn- directly to our destination. It ing trip. Even our hearts is located in a building which were echoing the songs the once served as the county birds were singing in praise jail and sheriff’s residence. to glorify their Creator. In 2006 they moved out.

We drove past fields of The museum itself is faircorn and soybeans — grow- ly young. Its birth can be ing as they ought at that traced directly to “The War” time. Thankfully enough documentary Ken Burns rain had come for the crops produced. In his seven-part to look healthy. We even series, Burns focused on saw a few horses and cows individual citizens in four soaking up the warm sunshine in American towns during World War II: green pastures. Waterbury, Conn.; Sacramento, Calif.;

Since we were in the tri-state region Mobile, Ala.; and Luverne, Minn. of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota, According to the Ken Burns website, there had to be a tractor or two in the 21 young men graduated from the fields to bring out that farmer in us. Luverne high school in 1939. All but All seemed right and normal. one served in this second world war. It Our destination was the Herreid Military Museum in Luverne, Minn. I had been there before; but this time I was taking a friend, a WWII military would have been 100 percent participation, but the young man had a heart defect which kept him from entering World War II. veteran himself. He had served as a During the war years, Rock County’s medic in various hospitals stateside. population was 10,683. From that

While I had a general idea of where number, 1,065 served in the military.

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»minnwestbank.com We began our tour with a general observance of the displays. It didn’t take long for us to realize this was not your general war historical museum. Instead, it took on a more personal note. The displays featured real people from Rock County. They had actual names with parents, brothers and sisters. Some were married with children. They might even have been an outstanding sports athlete or a star farmer. They were young men when they said their Thirty-two young men gave the ultimate sacrifice. As you can see, Mr. Burns had good reasons for choosing Luverne to repregoodbyes with tears in the eyes to the people most precious to them. Mere lads, they were, with hopes and dreams of living a peaceful, productive life. sent mid-America. The people of Luverne responded by continuing the work begun by his documentary. It is evident in this museum.

With many thanks to generous benefactors, Warren Herreid and Jeannine Rivet, the building was renovated to house the Brandenburg Gallery and the Herreid Military Museum. They felt it important to preserve the stories of Rock County’s brave men and women who had served. The movie had served as a springboard for their desire.

Photos by Renae B. Vander Schaaf The Herreid Military Museum in Luverne, Minn. was made possible through the efforts of Warren Herreid, Jeannine Rivet and many generous donations. Uniforms and other essential items from Rock County’s veterans are on display.

Instead, this war business had to be taken of first. There were others who were in dire need of their help, so they left their families and aspirations behind to protect freedom for us and others.

We progressed through the museum slowly because there is so much to see and absorb. Our conversations became less as we were beginning to more fully comprehend again and again what we were seeing.

The World War II display highlights mportant dates we all should remember.