Table Talk

Once in a while you see something that just stays with you.

This year I attended a college graduation ceremony. For that hour, family and friends were drawn together as one by the hard work of these students who came to fulfill the journey they had been on together as future pharmacists. One of them was our future daughter-in-law.

It had been many years of hard work, long days and nights of studying, difficult exams and internships which took up any free time she may have had — giving up time with friends and loved ones to accomplish this incredible life goal of service.

Once everyone was in place, the event began with the playing of the National Anthem.

There’s just something about hearing the National Anthem before an event. It grounds us and helps us remember there were many American feet on the ground of other countries — feet that never walked again — on American soil or ever; or feet replaced with artificial ones following battles they will think about for the rest of their days.

While I usually focus solely on the flag while our anthem plays, this time I let my eyes wander for a moment.

And that’s when I saw him.

An older gentleman stood three rows ahead of me in a full salute while the anthem played. He never moved; his eyes fixed on the flag; and he didn’t relax until the very last note of his country’s beloved anthem had stopped playing.

I was a little ashamed I was not as focused on the flag that day; but the sight of that man’s military salute is something I will carry with me always. I was in the presence of someone who had obviously served his country — our country — for me, for you and for everyone in that venue — whether they knew or appreciated it or not. Maybe he had lost friends in battles or fought his own demons during

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and after his service. Regardless, his deep devotion to — and love for — his country was plain to see. The last time I remember seeing patriotism that strong was on and after 9/11. And while I would never wish for that to happen again, I do miss the United States of 9/12. We were truly one people in those days and weeks afterwards, and the tremendous loss of life gave us a taste of what many soldiers and their families experienced through two world wars and in the wars and conflicts that have dotted our nation’s history throughout the years.

They say freedom isn’t free, and that it’s only one generation away from extinction. It’s become almost trite. We really do take our freedom for granted, and often forget there were people — whole families we didn’t even know — who sacrificed everything for us. For you; for me. Whether we appreciate it or not. Whether we even think about it or not.

That gentleman thought about it that day. I was honored to have spotted a veteran in such a large crowd, who gave of himself on behalf of every person there that day.

I saw a rerun of an old TV show which focused for a time on the WWII era and how it affected this Virginia mountain family. One episode detailed the youngest of the family’s four sons signing up for the Air Corps, and at the end of the show the four brothers left together as a group — three in uniform (already serving their country) and the youngest in civilian clothes and carrying a suitcase to join or rejoin their companies as the war trudged on. The rest of their family, filled with sorrow and

TABLE TALK trepidation, watched as half of their family left — walking into the unknown. As it is in war, there are By Karen Schwaller no promises. The gentleman behind the salute will stay with me every time I stand to respect the flag and our National Anthem. He taught me an important lesson that day — not with words, but through his profound actions. People like him have made all of our free and carefree living possible. The least I can do is respect it, remember, and repay him and all other veterans by living a life that is worthy of the sacrifices they made. Karen Schwaller brings “Table Talk” to The Land from her home near Milford, Iowa. She can be reached at kschwaller@evertek.net. v visit her while she was serving overseas. The horse industry has not merely provided a career for Keith. Horses have been a chosen lifestyle. Throughout his growing up years and during his career, Keith has been involved in every aspect of being a horseman. From pleasure riding to racing, exporting, pharmaceuticals, leasing, retail, slaughter, breeder, farrier, trainer, showman, judge, announcer, and the list continues. “I grew up in the Western Mounted Paraders saddle club, the old Palomino outfit. The whole family rode: mom, dad, brother, sister. And when Jane and I got married, us and all of our girls rode. It was a family thing,” he said. The Tongens were part of the Western Mounted Paraders for 40 of the 57 or so years the club existed. Keith also participated in chariot racing. “We would travel to county fairs in Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota. The training regimen with them [was strict]. I would drive those horses every day and try to put seven to eight miles of conditioning on them. We were very successful through the years. It was a lot of fun!” Working in the horse industry has been a family affair for the Tongens. Keith laughed as he said he used to enforce family bonding time on Sunday nights. The horses which had been purchased during the week had to be sorted into varying pens for loading each Monday. So, as a family, Keith, Jane and their four daughters would spend Sunday evenings

www.TheLandOnline.com Proud horseman for over 50 years TONGEN, from pg. 4 sorting horses as a family. Keith and Jane also recalled one summer, when their daughters were old enough to start working off of the farm, Keith offered them a business proposition. “I told them that if they want to ride horses [I would give them a job] and we’ll split the profit. We sold 900 riding horses that year. They made pretty good wages!” he said. For the last 30 years, Keith has been the horse superintendent at the county fair and is currently the McLeod County Fair president. McLeod County is celebrating its 150th anniversary of the fair and with that celebration they are welcoming the Budweiser Clydesdales. “We’re really, really excited to welcome Budweiser. That should be a big deal!” he said. Although Keith may be seeing a bright pink sunset on his time in the horse industry, the tradition of the iconic pink farm will remain. As he reflected on his work in the horse industry over the last 50 plus years, he said the industry is losing horsemen and what remains is horse lovers. “There is a difference,” he said. Although not ready to retire, Keith and Jane are certainly slowing down. Keith is spending more of his time making and selling hay. “A number of years ago, another trader friends’ wife asked me, ‘Keith, how long are you going to stay at this?’ I said, ‘Well as long as I enjoy it and as long as I’m physically able.’” v