2nd District Commander’s Report
Happy Veterans Day! I hope everyone had a day filled with reflection on their own military career, thanks to others that served, and gratitude for the great country we get to call home.
As I sat in my hideout among round bales on opening morning of deer season, getting covered with snow, I thought of what other veterans before me had gone through so I could enjoy the freedoms that I have.
I reflected on soldiers all the way back to the winter encampment at Valley Forge, where the Army endured immense hardship from starvation and disease, to Bastogne where the 101st Airborne dug in and formed an all-round perimeter to hold the Germans at bay, to the frozen soldiers of the battle of the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, where it was so cold the weapons in many instances did not function.
I sat there in humble gratitude, wondering how they endured such hell, hunting something that was hunting them — trying to kill them. Thank God for veterans!
Our Brewster American Legion Post 464 has transferred its share of veterans to Post Everlasting in the last year, as many posts across our great state of Minnesota have. But we had never done a Post Everlasting ceremony to honor a fallen servicemember before.
Until Gerald McConkey, 50-plus-year member, adjutant and gambling manager, passed away and left the request in his folder to be opened upon his death, we had no idea he was planning this, nor did his family.
His family had asked about what he wanted done for a funeral as he was getting up in age.
His response, “Don’t worry. Curt will take care of it.”
Curt Luitjens is our post commander. He stopped me in the soybean line at the elevator and told me the news that Gerald had passed away, and his wishes were that he wanted an Army chaplain to officiate the service. I got on the horn and started calling: no luck, short notice, guard drill, too far, have to preach.
After eight strikes, I figured the writing was on the wall. It looked like it was going to be a Curt, Donny and Tom show to pay our respects to our fellow comrade.
The day of, I showed up after Curt and Donny Obermoller (post chaplain) and was informed they had voted that I would be doing the honors of chaplain in the ceremony. Two out of three is the majority, they said. So we met with the family, set up three rifles in a tripod, rehearsed our parts and waited for the time to post the colors and commence the ceremony.
The patriotic setup by the family with flags, flowers, his urn and the three rifles put a shiver down your spine. I thought Gerald would be proud! The ceremony was humbling, and, when it was over, we presented the flag to the oldest daughter, fired a volley and “Taps” was played.
Gerald was a woodworker, he died in his woodshop where he made many things, including flagboxes for veteran’s flags. We told the family that they could pick out one of the boxes for his flag. They said he always said he was going to make one for himself. We told them: “He did; he just did not know that he was.”
At the conclusion I said: “If I tip over tomorrow, this is the service I would like. The Post Everlasting Service can be found in the American Legion Officer’s Guide.”
Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a Merry Christmas! May your holiday season be filled with happiness, awe, love and kindness.