The Grand Portage community gathered for a traditional Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at the Grand Portage Veterans Memorial. The Stonebridge Singers, a young drum group mentored by members of the Grand Portage Traditional Drum, performed an honor song as veterans raised flags representing the branches of the military.
Under solemn gray skies, the Grand Portage Community gathered to honor our nation’s veterans on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, at the Grand Portage Veterans Memorial. Before the ceremony on the hill overlooking Lake Superior, veterans talked quietly, reading names on the memorial brick walkway and remembering those not in attendance this year.
Students from Oshki Ogimaag, the School of New Leaders, joined community members, standing respectfully as the National Anthem was played and Grand Portage Veterans Services Officer Clarence Everson raised the United States flag. Next the Canadian flag was raised by Al Fugelsang of Thunder Bay to the Canadian National Anthem.
The Stonebridge Singers, young men from Grand Portage and their mentors from the Grand Portage Traditional Drum, then offered an honor song as the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa flag was raised by Ron Ranta.
The Stonebridge Singers—David Logan, Marcus Logan, Kyler Deschampe, John Michael Pierre and mentors Patrick Pierre, Eric Carlson, and Wally Deschampe—continued their song as flags of all branches of the military and a POW/ MIA flag were raised by community veterans. Although the flags they raised may not have been representative of the brach nwhchthysrvd each veean uity pid repectohscmadesRiing flags w re C ar ie Ped r on C ast Gu rd; Wi l am Owens MechntMrne;AvidDahl A my; m D oui ard Na y; M ck y Sp y Air Fo ce; Ted K pl wski Ma i es; and Bi l Myrst ePOWflag
Army veteran William Owens and his son, Kadden, stand at attention as the National Anthem is played and the United States flag is raised. Kadden then helped his dad raise the flag honoring the members of the Merchant Marine.
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