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MEMORIAL WILL HONOR 326,000 MINNESOTA VETERANS
OF WORLD WAR II -- "I'm just happy it happened
in
time for a few of us old-timers to check it
out."
Department of Transportation
employee Karl Teater reads a newly installed plaque last week at
Minnesota's World War II Veterans Memorial on the state Capitol
Mall in St. Paul. Teater's father and stepfather fought in World
War II. (PHOTO CREDIT: Times photo by Mark Trockman) |
Story here...
http://www.sctimes.com/
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70604/NEWS01/106040052/1009
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Memorial to honor 326,000 Minnesota world war
II vets
By Lawrence Schumacher
lschumacher@stcloudtimes.com
ST. PAUL — It's been a long time coming, but Gen. John W. Vessey Jr. is
ready to take his first look at Minnesota's World War II Memorial on
Saturday.
The rural Garrison resident and World War II Presidential Medal of
Freedom recipient has made it a point not to sneak a peek at the
memorial, which will be dedicated in a daylong ceremony at the Minnesota
State Capitol Mall.
"I'm waiting to surprise myself," Vessey said. "I'm just happy it
happened in time for a few of us old-timers to check it out."
More than 326,000 Minnesotans served in the armed forces during World
War II. Saturday's dedication will include a roll call of the names of
more than 6,000 Minnesotans who died during the war.
Vessey won't just be checking out the memorial. He'll be speaking at the
event, along with Gov. Tim Pawlenty and World War II chaplain Delbert
Kuehl.
State funding for the memorial finally came through in 2005, and its
assembly wrapped up last month.
A group picture of surviving veterans, flyovers by World War II-era
airplanes, and a 21-gun salute and playing of taps also will take place
at the dedication.
Getting there
Now, the biggest challenge appears to be getting the state's remaining
World War II veterans — many of whom face mobility challenges — to the
ceremony.
"I'm going to be 80 in a few months, and I'm one of the younger ones,"
said Al Loehr, a World War II veteran who has served as St. Cloud mayor
and commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs.
"Earlier World War II veterans are in no physical shape to go on their
own, and that's a problem," he said.
Loehr, a Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars officer, said he's working
with area veterans organizations to get a bus or space on someone else's
bus to take people to the dedication in St. Paul, but nothing has been
finalized yet.
"We've got about a dozen vets who want to go that we know of," he said.
"There's probably more out there."
The VA Medical Center in St. Cloud will have representatives at the
dedication with information about veterans services, but it does not
plan to transport anyone to the ceremony, spokeswoman Joan Vincent said.
If veterans are able to make it to the ceremony on their own, they are
eligible for reimbursement from the state for their travel expenses,
said Terry Ferdinandt, Stearns County veterans services officer.
The Minnesota Legislature included $250,000 in the agriculture and
veterans budget bill this year to help pay for those expenses so any
veteran could get to the memorial for free, said Rep. Larry Hosch, DFL-St.
Joseph.
The Memorial
Located near the state veterans service building, the memorial is a
courtyard with a map of the state of Minnesota in the center, surrounded
by bronze stars. Glass panels describe various scenes from the war.
Its cost is coming in at about $1.1 million, with service organizations
raising about half and the Legislature appropriating $670,000 for it in
2005.
Why the wait?
The memorial will join existing tributes in the same area to the
Minnesotans who served their country in more recent conflicts, such as
the Vietnam and Korean wars.
The state dedication follows a national World War II Memorial dedication
three years ago.
Why did it take so long for veterans of the world's largest conflict to
receive their due?
"World War II was such a huge event that any memorial for it would
probably pale in comparison," Vessey said. "The whole nation was
involved in it, not just the military. So it's pretty difficult to build
an edifice that's a tribute to the efforts of 120 million people."
Loehr said he sent in a donation to help raise money for the state
memorial years ago, and he is glad it finally came together.
"The important thing is the recognition of the event and of the people
who aren't here today because of their service," he said.
If you go ...
When: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday. The dedication ceremony takes place at
2 p.m.
Where: Minnesota State Capitol Mall, St. Paul.
Parking: More than 3,000 free parking spaces have been made available
around the Capitol Mall, including designated disabled parking and
drop-off spots. Off-site parking at the State Fairgrounds is available,
with free shuttle service to the event every 15 minutes.
Seating: Veterans are encouraged to bring their own wheelchairs and
walkers, if necessary. Reserved seating will be provided for World War
II veterans and spouses. Other visitors should bring their own chairs.
For information: Contact the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs at
651-296-0080 or e-mail
pturgeon@mdva.state.mn , or contact your county veteran services
officer.
On the Net
Visit
www.mdva.state.mn.us/WWIIMemorial.htm to view an outline of
the program for the dedication, parking maps and copies of the
reimbursement forms.
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Larry Scott --
