The Veterans Day program at School District 166 began with the posting of colors by the American Legion Post 413 Color Guard. The moving program was just one of the ways the community said “thank you” to its veterans on Monday, November 11, 2013. See more about Veterans Day on page A5.
Veterans Day remembrances began early on November 11, 2013, as flags were raised at the Grand Portage Veterans Memorial at daybreak. Ceremonies in honor of local veterans continued through the day, at the new Grand Portage American Legion building, at School District 166 and finally at the Grand Marais American Legion lounge.
Grand Portage welcomes veterans to new building
For some, the Veterans Day ceremony offered the first glimpse of the new American Legion Post 2009 gathering place. As veterans, family members and friends gathered, they were treated to a magnificent view of Grand Portage Bay through the large windows, sheltered from the bitter winds blowing.
At 10:30 a.m., the Stonebridge Singers—Bob Vogel, Patrick LeGarde, Trevor Deschampe, Brent Sorenson, David Logan, Marcus Logan, and John Vogel—offered an honor song and members of the Grand Portage Legion stepped outside to raise the Canadian, MIA and American flags. The wind made it a difficult task, but once aloft, the flags proudly waved over the new legion and the ceremony.
Mission accomplished! High winds made posting the flags outside Grand Portage American Legion Post 2009 difficult. Once the flags were proudly flying, legion members gathered inside for a ceremony that including a meaningful speech by Melvin Gagnon and honor songs by the Stonebridge Singers drum.
Grand Portage Veterans Services Officer Clarence Everson welcomed all and noted that November is Native American Heritage Month. He said part of the heritage of the Native Americans is service to their country. He read the numbers of Native Americans who fought in World War I, World War II and all the other wars and conflicts. He noted that today there are an estimated 190,000 Native American military veterans.
Everson said it is with great honor that he works with community veterans and he encouraged anyone with needs or concerns to come visit with him.
After a moment of silence at 11 a.m., Melvin Gagnon, a member of the Grand Portage Sons of the American Legion, spoke, thanking all of the veterans— past and present— for their service. Gagnon said Memorial Day is a day to honor the veterans we have lost. He said he feels Veterans Day should be for the veterans still with us.
Gagnon said he wanted to make the community aware of how many people have served and then quietly returned to their lives in Grand Portage and Cook County. He slowly read a list of names of veterans, along with their branch of service and where they served.
The Stonebridge Singers offered another honor song, with the sound of the drum echoing on the walls that are filled with pictures of veterans with ties to Grand Portage.
Everyone lingered to enjoy a luncheon prepared by the Grand Portage Legion Auxiliary.
School District 166 celebrates veterans
Community members gathered again at 2 p.m. in the Cook County High School gym for a Veterans Day Program offered by students. The American Legion Post 413 Color Guard posted the flags to begin the program, standing solemnly as soloist Erika Ternes sang the Star Spangled Banner. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the audience was welcomed by Middle School/High School Principal Adam Nelson and Elementary Principal Gwen Carman.
The Cook County High School Band performed Within These Hallowed Halls with narration by CCHS senior Megan Lehto, who will be entering the Air Force National Guard after graduation.
A video about the meaning of Veterans Day produced by Cook County Middle School students was shared and then guest speaker Bob Carter, a sergeant and medic in the U.S. Army from 1968-1970 shared some thoughts on his service.
Carter started by thanking all of the veterans in attendance. “Welcome home,” he said, “thank you for a job well done.”
Carter continued, “As a veteran of the Vietnam War I have a special fondness for Veterans Day and the celebrations such as this because we served in a war that was not popular at home and that discord got transferred to most vets when we returned home.
“To the point that we didn’t want people to know that we had served. As a result we simply put it away and tried to pick up our lives and move on. Some of us did that better than others and there have been lasting consequences.
“I think that this country learned the lesson during the two Gulf Wars and the continuing war in Afghanistan. We have learned to separate our feelings about the conflict itself from our gratitude for the troops…”
Carter said he has been asked if he regretted his time in the service and he said he did not enjoy all of his time, and in fact disagreed with the United States’ involvement in Vietnam, but he said he has always been grateful for the time in the Army and especially for the lasting friendships he made with those with which he served.
But, said Carter, “If we are going to ask our young men and women to go to war, to do our killing for us then we need to better help them handle the many psychological, moral, and spiritual stresses of coming home…”
“…We have done a better job than ever of bringing our warriors home alive; some maimed and disabled for life, but alive. But we do a lousy job of bringing them back whole.”
Carter said paying tribute to our veterans on November 11 each year is honorable and appreciated, but he challenged the audience to do more.
“Research and get involved with the many organizations that care for our returning veterans after they return home. Sending cookies to the troops is a great idea but don’t forget to bring these folks cookies when they get home.”
Carter listed some places to go to assist veterans, such as the Vietnam Veterans of America, Korean War Veterans Association, the Gulf War Veterans Coalition, the Wounded Warrior Project and America’s Vet Dogs.
Carter said veterans— warriors—have done their part. “Now it is our turn…”
The meaningful program continued with CCHS Band performing the Armed Forces Salute with veterans asked to stand when their theme song was played.
The Sawtooth Elementary 4th and 5th grade choir performed a beautiful patriotic medley, Our America, which included a stanza of Lee Greenwood’s Proud to Be an American.
The program ended with an echoing performance of Taps by CCHS senior Joe Borud and CCHS sophomore Owen Anderson, followed by the retiring of the colors by American Legion Post 413.
Day’s end at Grand Marais Legion
Many of the veterans who attended the day’s events gathered once again at American Legion Post 413 for a dinner hosted by the Legion Auxiliary. Before dinner, a flag ceremony was conducted by Cook County Girl Scouts and a prayer was given by auxiliary chaplain EvaLyn Carlson. The dinner was a relaxing end to a long day for many, and a simple way to express thanks to our local veterans.
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