BRAINERD VFW
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​Veterans Day 2022
​in Brainerd, MN, USA

Honoring Veterans on 
November 11th
World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Veterans Day is November 11th each year in honor of those who have served our country in times of peace and war.​
November 11, 2022, 8:45 am:  A Veterans Day Program was held at Riverside Elementary School in Brainerd.  The Brainerd Honor Guard was there to present the flag.  Major Tracy Mankowski was the guest speaker.  She told of military commitment and sacrifice to keep our country safe.
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November 11, 2022, 10 am:  Brainerd High School Veterans Day Program.  The Brainerd Honor Guard presented the flag.  Lt. Colonel John Hobot of the Minnesota National Guard gave an inspiring speech telling about our troops.  Veterans were recognized for their service.  Quilts of Honor were given to fourteen veterans that day.  Attendees were given flags as they left.
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The Brainerd High School band and choir presented a rousing rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

November 11, 2022, 11:11 am:  The Brainerd Honor Guard held a short ceremony at the All Veterans Memorial in honor of all Veterans on Veterans Day.  
A class from Lake Region Christian School was there to view the ceremony and stayed around to ask questions of veterans.  Many thought they might join the military someday.  It was an interesting learning experience for everyone.
The Brainerd Honor Guard was also at Harrison School, Garfield School and Woodland Acres senior living facility that day. Baxter Elementary School Veterans Day program on Lakeland TV.  

November 10, 2022, 2 pm:  Veteran ceremonies were held at Lowell Elementary School in Brainerd.  The Color Guard/Honor Guard was there to present the colors.  Dave Meyer of the VFW was there to shake hands with Dave Meyer who is a teacher at the school.  It was the third-grade class that put on the show that day.
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November 10, 2022, 9 am:  The Brainerd Honor Guard was at the Baxter Elementary School for a veteran's concert program presented by third grade students.  Children sang and gave short speeches.  ​
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There was a question-and-answer session after the ceremony.  It was stated that the Honor Guard/Color Guard is still serving in the community.There was a question-and-answer session after the ceremony.  It was stated that the Honor Guard/Color Guard is still serving in the community.
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In the end, everyone had a great time.

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November 9, 2022:  (l-r) Ken Thomas and Tess Taylor of WJJY Radio along with Mark Persons from the Brainerd VFW.  This Community Focus interview was heard at noon on WJJY, 106.7 FM Radio.

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November 9, 2022:  (l-r) Bill Satre, morning man on B93.3 Radio and Mark Persons from the Brainerd VFW.  The 9:15 am interview was also aired on Cool 103.5 FM Radio later in the day. ​

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November 9, 2022:  (l-r) ​Danny and Mac from KLIZ-FM and Mark Persons of the Brainerd VFW. Their live interview aired at 8:20 am. ​

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November 7, 2022:  Brainerd VFW member Mark Persons was interviewed on RJ Broadcasting about the upcoming Veterans Day.  The interview was heard at 8:45 am on six radio stations in Brainerd and Aitkin. ​
Show notes:  Announcer:  In studio is Mark Persons from the Brainerd Veterans of Foreign Wars to talk about Veteran’s Day, Friday, November 11th.  Mark: Veterans Day brings a few dates to mind. 
 
There is Independence Day July 4th when our country was freed from foreign rule, thanks to those who fought for independence back in the 1700s.  There is Memorial Day in May when we honor and remember those who died in service to our country.  Then there is Armistice Day, later renamed Veterans Day, which was created when WWI ended on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918….104 years ago.
 
We should also remember those who fought against the Axis powers of Germany and Japan in the global conflict of WWII.  The Axis plan was to divide the world and America in two.  Germany was going to have everything east of the Mississippi River and Japan would have the west. We would have a divided town.  Some 440,000 American servicemembers died between 1941 and 1945 fighting to keep that from happening.  We owe our country to our veterans.
 
Veterans Day celebrates service to our country by all veterans, regardless of whether or not they saw combat.  Being in the military is a commitment to America.  A sense of duty.  Those in service pledge their lives to defend our country.
 
Some were drafted into service in past wars.  I volunteered out of a sense of patriotism.  They never said it would be easy.  I spent a year in Vietnam under terrible living conditions, but fortunately I lived to be here today.
 
Everyone has a story about their service in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marines.  Announcer:  There is a new one, the Space Force.   
 
The Brainerd Honor Guard is made up of veterans from the Brainerd American Legion, Brainerd Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Crow Wing County Disabled American Veterans.  They all work together.
 
Baxter Elementary and Lowell School will have Veteran Day ceremonies with the Brainerd Honor Guard on Thursday.
 
Friday there will be ceremonies at Riverside Elementary and the Brainerd High School in the morning with other schools in the afternoon, along with at least one nursing home.
 
In the middle of Veterans Day, there will be an Honor Guard ceremony at the All-Veterans Memorial at 4th and Laurel Streets, between the post office and county courthouse.  There will be three rifle volleys heard downtown at 11:11 am, if the high school program ends on time.  Taps will be played as well.
 
Announcer: What will they do if it rains?  Mark: Soldiers were trained to work around adversity.  I’ve said it before…. They’ve been through the cold and snow of Korea, the monsoon rains in steaming jungles of Vietnam and sandstorms with heat in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan.  They will be there…. regardless of rain, sleet, wind, snow or cold.  Veteran’s Day is to honor those who served and may still be serving.  
 
On a side note, local veteran organizations include the Brainerd American Legion, Brainerd Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Crow Wing County Disabled American Veterans.  They all have the goal of helping veterans and the community.
 
Ceremony stories and photos will be on website BrainerdVFW.org, hopefully later that day or Saturday.
 
Some area restaurants are offering free meals to veterans on November 11th. 

A big thank You to this radio station for the time to tell the veteran story.

November 9, 2022:  The Crow Wing County DAV Auxiliary sponsored a luncheon for veterans at Carefree Living in Brainerd.  Many DAV members are also members of the Brainerd VFW.  There was apple pie and ice cream for dessert while veterans told their stories.  See Veterans Day too.
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​Mike Williams played harmonic while Sue Sterling, President of the Brainerd VFW Auxiliary, sang.

November 8, 2022:  It was music, apple pie and ice cream at the Northern Lakes Senior Living​ facility in Baxter.  DAV and VFW members were there to entertain the residents.  One by one, veterans told their stories about time in the service.  ​
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​Mike Williams on harmonica and Sandy Hudak on piano playing God Bless America.

What is a Veteran? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIjgpzGC6h0
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Brainerd VFW
​309 South 6th Street

Brainerd, MN  56401
​218-829-6393
Mon-Sat: Noon to 10 pm
Sunday: Noon to 5 pm
& during
Vikings Football  
3rd Sun. breakfast 8 to noon
Winner of six MN VFW Website Awards
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