On May 8, the Minnesota House of Representatives recognized the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, the day the World War II Allies formally accepted the surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany. We commemorated the day in an emotional ceremony recognizing several Minnesota veterans who served in World War Ii. Their stories were truly inspiring, and reminded us of the bravery and sacrifice made by members of what has come to be known as "The Greatest Generation."
Last year, a World War II Memorial was dedicated on the grounds of the state Capitol. At that time, medallions were handed out to attending veterans. Many more veterans have since asked where they could get one of these medallions. Unfortunately, they are all gone. The good news is that this year's Ag and Vets Omnibus bill contains language that allows veterans service organizations to gather names and collect funds for additional medallions. I recommend that any veteran interested in obtaining a medallion contact their local VFW or Legion Post and request to be added to this list. One large order will be placed in the near future, and the medallions will be distributed by the veterans organizations.
The next time you are in St. Paul, I also encourage you to stop by the new World War II Memorial. It is an inspirational reminder of the fight that was waged for the freedoms we all enjoy.
State Rep. John Ward
Brainerd
To Subscribe to the Brainerd Dispatch, Click Here.
Note: Comments are not edited and don't represent the views of The Brainerd Dispatch. Please read our posting rules in the terms of service policy. To report a post that may be inappropriate, click the triangle alert icon.
