The 11-11-11 Veterans Day ceremony at the Grand Portage Veterans Memorial was held inside and out—outside for the traditional flag raising and then inside the old community building for drum songs and brief speeches. Top: Curtis Gagnon (right) was the speaker and he read some letters from school children at Oshki Ogimaag School. Like many audience members, Gagnon was visibly moved by the heartfelt letters. Billy Blackwell (left) offered a blessing. Lower left: Tiny Tot Princess Kassia Deschampe gets some advice from her grandmother before her turn on the microphone. Kassia said “Miigwech” to all veterans. Lower right: The Stonebridge Singers and their mentors offered honor songs to the veterans.
Veterans Day, 11-11-11, at Grand Portage Veterans Memorial Grounds found a group of hardy folks who braved the weather to come and give “honor and thanks” to, and for, our veterans. The flags were raised to the sound of the Star Spangled Banner and O, Canada. A joint Canadian and American team—Al Fugelsans of Thunder Bay and Ralph Tesser of Grand Portage, presented the Canadian flag.
Tiny Tot Princess Kassia Deschampe, in her regalia, stood with the flag presenters as the flags were raised.
During the flag raising ceremony, the eagle, which has become a symbol to all gathered at Grand Portage on this special day, once again appeared over the bay behind the Veterans Memorial.
Since it was cold and snowing intermittently, the rest of the honor ceremony was moved to the warm old community building. Clarence “Clink” Everson, Cook County veteran services officer, turned the ceremony over to the Stonebridge Singers Drum. The Stonebridge Singers are Patrick LeGarde, Pat Pierre, Pat Pierre Jr., Bob Vogel, Eric Carlson, Brandon Dahl, Kyler Deschampe, Brett Sorenson, Trevor Deschampe. They were followed by a prayer in Ojibwe offered by Billy Blackwell of Grand Portage.
A moment of silence was offered at 11 a.m., in memory of all veterans, after which Curtis Gagnon presented some very interesting statistics on the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C. He talked of personal thoughts and feelings experienced when he visited the wall.
Gagnon read letters written by children from the Oshki Ogimaag school of Grand Portage thanking veterans for “keeping them safe, their families and friends safe and for protecting our country and the world.”
Letters were decorated with sketches of military people in camouflage, surrounded by hearts, with the sun, with rainbows, with a tank and a smiley face. Nods and smiles, with lumps in the throats, were evident in the building, with even the reader taking a pause as he read. Gagnon thanked the children for the great job they had done on their “Miigwech.”
Gagnon then introduced the Tiny Tot Princess, Kassia Deschampe. Her grandmother said that Kassia represented all the children who couldn’t be there for the ceremony. Kassia then charmed everyone with a shy “Miigwech” for the veterans.
An invitation was extended for all to come to the Veterans Day Concert at Cook County High School, especially since the time of the school’s ceremony had been adjusted so that the Grand Portage people would have time to come in and share in the service.
Following the ceremony, cake and coffee were enjoyed by everyone and pictures were taken of the veterans who were present.
Veterans who raised flags in the ceremony
American FlagGrand Portage Chippewa FlagPOW FlagMarine FlagCoast Guard FlagNavy FlagArmy FlagAir ForceMerchant Marine
Veterans proudly faced the wind and cold to raise the flags at the Veterans Day Memorial ceremony.
Clarence “Clink” Everson
Tony Swader
Duane “Butch” Deschampe
James “Jim” Drouillard
Darryl Deschampe
Charlie Peterson
Mitch Cyrette
Ella Vogel
Richard “Dick” Bockovich
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