Veterans have their day at Luverne High School observance
Guest speaker addresses attendees from Camp Patriot in KuwaitLUVERNE — Elderly gentlemen wearing VFW hats, Honor Flight jackets or patriotic shirts and ties visited with another, shaking hands with friends and waiting patiently while strains of “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah” played in the background. As students filtered into the Luverne High School gym, the audience members took their seats and waited for the 11/11/11 Veterans Day program to begin in Rock County.
- Veterans Day reflection
LUVERNE — Elderly gentlemen wearing VFW hats, Honor Flight jackets or patriotic shirts and ties visited with another, shaking hands with friends and waiting patiently while strains of “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah” played in the background. As students filtered into the Luverne High School gym, the audience members took their seats and waited for the 11/11/11 Veterans Day program to begin in Rock County.
“Freedom is a wonderful thing,” began Principal Ryan Johnson. “Let’s remember, reflect and value that freedom.”
The guest speaker for the program wasn’t actually in attendance. From Camp Patriot in Kuwait, Sgt. 1st Class Scott Kruger spoke to the audience via the Internet using Skype. On one side of a screen, Kruger could be seen in camouflage clothing. On the other side, his wife and three children stared into the camera from a classroom in Belle Plain.
Shortly before Kruger started speaking, Minnesota National Guard member Pvt. Marcus Emery addressed the audience, relating his experiences at recruit training camp.
“I met people of all different cultures from all across the United States,” Emery stated. “Although we had our differences, there was one common interest — our desire to keep the freedom past soldiers had fought and died for.”
Kruger agreed with Emery.
“Private Emery hit the nail right on the head,” he stated.
The son and grandson of veterans, Kruger said he joined the Minnesota National Guard in 1989.
He had thought about going active duty, but circumstances didn’t allow for it, he explained. Originally from Round Lake, he resides in Belle Plain when he isn’t deployed with his unit.
Kruger said he was gone 23 months on his last deployment, and he gives his wife credit for keeping everything running back home.
“All the hard work is done there,” he said. “The kids, the lawn, shoveling snow, getting everyone off to school. She is amazing — without the support from back home, we couldn’t do what we do here.”
Last year, Kruger had the opportunity to accompany a group of World War II veterans on a Southwest Minnesota Honor Flight, an experience he enjoyed because it gave him the chance to “pay back” the vets for the reception and treatment soldiers are getting when they return from deployment.
“It was the World War II vets that paved the way for us,” he explained.
Both of his grandfathers were veterans, and both would have loved to take the Washington D.C. trip, but neither of them is alive. Of his honor flight trip, Kruger said, “For one weekend, I had 110 grandpas again.”
During the program, Luverne VFW Commander Terrie Gulden spoke about the history of the Pledge of Allegiance and read a letter stating Luverne has met the requirements to be part of the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program. Music was provided by the Luverne High School Concert Band and Choir.
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