2026 Press/Media Coverage
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June 27, 2026:
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May 25, 2026:
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Theresa Bourke / Brainerd Dispatch
Heidi Kraemer, left, and Betty Peck place a memorial wreath for the Military Order of the Purple Heart during the Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 25, 2026, at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd.
Remembering the past to better the future
By Theresa Bourke - Brainerd DispatchBRAINERD
Peace requires strength, respect for institutions and a sense of hope for the future. That was the message Vietnam veteran Buford Johnson gave to the crowd gathered Monday, May 25, at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd for the annual Memorial Day ceremony. Hues of red, white and blue dotted the lush green cemetery on a warm, sunny day as attendees came out in support of military service members who have died.
Johnson, a retired Army infantry captain in special forces, also spoke of the importance of the country’s two long standing documents — the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution — and asked those in attendance Monday to be sure to pass on their significance to future generations.
“If we want to know the future, we better know the past,” Johnson said. “And the past becomes very important to us.”
He read portions of the Declaration of Independence, focusing on the very beginning and the very end to hit home the document’s strength. “You live in a very prosperous, great nation,” he told the crowd. “Make sure your children and your grandchildren become familiar with who we are.” Johnson spoke of the country’s checkered past with problems like slavery and prejudice, made worse through the doctrine of critical race theory but which he said have now been done away with to put the U.S. on good, solid ground.
“So my challenge to you — and it’s as great a challenge as anyone being sent into the military — my challenge to you is to know who we are, where we came from, the importance of God and the importance of a free people,” Johnson concluded. “And with that, God bless you all.”
Patriotic music echoed through the cemetery during the ceremony, as the Brainerd High School Marching Band played “America the Beautiful,” “The Battle Cry of Freedom” and the National Anthem.
Representatives from the American Legion Auxiliary placed memorial wreaths for Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Blue Star Mothers, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corp League and Daughters of the American Revolution.
Led by emcee Bill Satre, Monday’s ceremony at the cemetery was the culmination of the day’s observances, which began earlier in the morning with a wreath placed in the Mississippi River in honor of those lost at sea, followed by a ceremony at the All Veterans Memorial and a parade up to the cemetery.
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at [email protected] or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Facebook at bit.ly/BourkesBookshelf.
By Theresa Bourke - Brainerd DispatchBRAINERD
Peace requires strength, respect for institutions and a sense of hope for the future. That was the message Vietnam veteran Buford Johnson gave to the crowd gathered Monday, May 25, at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd for the annual Memorial Day ceremony. Hues of red, white and blue dotted the lush green cemetery on a warm, sunny day as attendees came out in support of military service members who have died.
Johnson, a retired Army infantry captain in special forces, also spoke of the importance of the country’s two long standing documents — the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution — and asked those in attendance Monday to be sure to pass on their significance to future generations.
“If we want to know the future, we better know the past,” Johnson said. “And the past becomes very important to us.”
He read portions of the Declaration of Independence, focusing on the very beginning and the very end to hit home the document’s strength. “You live in a very prosperous, great nation,” he told the crowd. “Make sure your children and your grandchildren become familiar with who we are.” Johnson spoke of the country’s checkered past with problems like slavery and prejudice, made worse through the doctrine of critical race theory but which he said have now been done away with to put the U.S. on good, solid ground.
“So my challenge to you — and it’s as great a challenge as anyone being sent into the military — my challenge to you is to know who we are, where we came from, the importance of God and the importance of a free people,” Johnson concluded. “And with that, God bless you all.”
Patriotic music echoed through the cemetery during the ceremony, as the Brainerd High School Marching Band played “America the Beautiful,” “The Battle Cry of Freedom” and the National Anthem.
Representatives from the American Legion Auxiliary placed memorial wreaths for Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Blue Star Mothers, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corp League and Daughters of the American Revolution.
Led by emcee Bill Satre, Monday’s ceremony at the cemetery was the culmination of the day’s observances, which began earlier in the morning with a wreath placed in the Mississippi River in honor of those lost at sea, followed by a ceremony at the All Veterans Memorial and a parade up to the cemetery.
THERESA BOURKE may be reached at [email protected] or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Facebook at bit.ly/BourkesBookshelf.
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May 8, 2026:
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May 4, 2026: Written by Brainerd VFW Auxiliary member Sue Sterling.
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April 17, 2026: Written by Brainerd VFW Auxiliary member Sue Sterling.
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April 15, 2026: Written by Brainerd VFW Auxiliary member Sue Sterling.
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