Chaplain: Deer hunt at Legionville unforgettable
World War I effectively ended on Nov. 11, 1918, at 11 a.m. when the armistice between the allied nations and Germany went into effect. Fighting ceased at this precise time, which is why the date is commemorated as Armistice Day. It became Veterans Day in the United States in 1954. It became Remembrance Day in some British Commonwealth countries in 1931 and for the rest in 1945.
The formal end of World War I came with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919. I’m very proud of my heritage as my grandfather was a medic in this war.
I’ve had another busy month and a half since my October article. I was fortunate to be among six disabled veterans chosen to participate in the John Zgoda Disabled Veteran Deer Hunt at Legionville on Oct. 1 and 2.
I would like to thank all the Sons of The American Legion, American Legion Riders and American Legion members who volunteered to make this one-of-a-kind deer hunt happen. It is one hunt I will never forget — from the guides assisting in the awesome eight deer stands to the ATV drivers dropping us off and picking us up.
There are over 500 acres at the camp. The food was great, and no one went hungry. I was lucky enough to have bagged a 3- or 4-year-old doe. Five out of the six hunters got a deer. Thanks to Commander Linda Dvorak, President Robin Dorf and NECman (and Legionville President) Carl Moon for visiting.
My duties continued with the Bloomington Veterans Honor Guard performing three funerals at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Post/Unit/Squadron 550 in Bloomington had the Early Bird Dinner on Oct. 28 at Bloomington’s Veterans Center.
My next adventure was the Department Executive Committee meeting and Fall Conference in St. Cloud on Oct. 23-26. The highlight was hearing motivational speaker John Kriesel, a disabled veteran from the Iraq War, gave an inspiring hour-long talk to a packed room.
On Sunday, Nov. 9, the Bloomington Veterans Honor Guard was invited to present our nation’s colors at the Minnesota Vikings game as part of the NFL Salute to Service at US Bank Stadium. We felt a very warm welcome by the team staff and received many thank-yous from ticketholders.
Then on Nov. 11, Legion Post 550 and VFW Post 1296 teamed up for a Veterans Day program and luncheon. Our honor guard performed two flag presentations, one at a school and another at a senior high-rise building, followed by a flagpole ceremony and 21-gun salute at our post.
The first Thanksgiving was held in the autumn of 1621 by an English columnist in Plymouth Mass., to celebrate their first successful harvest. They shared a three-day feast with the Wampanoag Native Americans, who joined them after the columnists invited them to join their observance.
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday in 1863.
A prayer for Thanksgiving Day:
“Heavenly father, we come together with thankful hearts to honor the men and women who have served in our armed forces. We lift up our veterans to you, Lord, and ask for blessings of Peace and Healing, both for those who have visible wounds and those who carry the scares of service that are unseen. For those who are still serving, we ask for your protection, and for a safe return home. Help us to remember and honor the bravery and sacrifice of all our veterans today and always. Amen.”
Jim Mead of Bloomington Post 550 is the chaplain for The American Legion Department of Minnesota.
