My favorite holiday
Posted by Kurt Philion on Sunday, October 31, 2010
It's just over a week until my favorite holiday of the year. No, it's not quite time to devour some turkey on Thanksgiving, but two week prior to that, it's Veteran's Day. A day to give back the chance to say "thank you" to our service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
On Veteran's Day this year, much like last year, I will be in attendance at my alma mater to be part of the ceremony put together by the Legion Post 22 & Lafayette High School's faculty and administration.
I had never seen such a great response to a well put together program for Veteran's Day until last November. I was glad I could be part of it, and honored to be asked by a war vet from Post 22 to come and speak to the students, staff and community members that were there. I'm not sure how many it was, but it was somewhere around 400-500 people listening in. The actual speech is in the Media section of this website. It's twenty minutes long, which can be too long for some to sit through, but from what I was told, the ones who gave feed back told me they could have sat and listened to me all day about the experiences I've been part of in the last four years.
This year is going to be very special. On Veteran's Day - November 11th, 2010 - the speaker in Red Lake Falls will also be making an appearance in Oklee, MN at Red Lake County Central High School and one last stop that night at American Legion Post 22 in RLF for a question/answer session. His name: John Kriesel. His status: Running for State House in District 57A - Cottage Grove, MN. His experience: Lost both legs from the knees down in the same blast that killed Bryan McDonough of Maplewood, MN & Corey Rystad of Red Lake Falls, MN. His book: Still Standing - available at www.stillstandingstory.com Purchase a copy - you won't regret it.
And if you get the chance - come to Red Lake Falls or Oklee (or BOTH!) on November 11th. I guarantee this will be a very special event for you. I've heard John speak at other events, and this will be a great opportunity for northern Minnesota. John will be accompanied by his wife, two kids and a couple friends and fellow soldiers who were also there on December 2, 2006 when the IED explosion that took the life of two of John's friends - and one of my good friends Corey Rystad.
Study up on who John is by visiting the site listed above. John's been through a lot - but the experience has made him a stronger person.
We'll see you in Red Lake County on Veteran's Day - November 11th!
On Veteran's Day this year, much like last year, I will be in attendance at my alma mater to be part of the ceremony put together by the Legion Post 22 & Lafayette High School's faculty and administration.
I had never seen such a great response to a well put together program for Veteran's Day until last November. I was glad I could be part of it, and honored to be asked by a war vet from Post 22 to come and speak to the students, staff and community members that were there. I'm not sure how many it was, but it was somewhere around 400-500 people listening in. The actual speech is in the Media section of this website. It's twenty minutes long, which can be too long for some to sit through, but from what I was told, the ones who gave feed back told me they could have sat and listened to me all day about the experiences I've been part of in the last four years.
This year is going to be very special. On Veteran's Day - November 11th, 2010 - the speaker in Red Lake Falls will also be making an appearance in Oklee, MN at Red Lake County Central High School and one last stop that night at American Legion Post 22 in RLF for a question/answer session. His name: John Kriesel. His status: Running for State House in District 57A - Cottage Grove, MN. His experience: Lost both legs from the knees down in the same blast that killed Bryan McDonough of Maplewood, MN & Corey Rystad of Red Lake Falls, MN. His book: Still Standing - available at www.stillstandingstory.com Purchase a copy - you won't regret it.
And if you get the chance - come to Red Lake Falls or Oklee (or BOTH!) on November 11th. I guarantee this will be a very special event for you. I've heard John speak at other events, and this will be a great opportunity for northern Minnesota. John will be accompanied by his wife, two kids and a couple friends and fellow soldiers who were also there on December 2, 2006 when the IED explosion that took the life of two of John's friends - and one of my good friends Corey Rystad.
Study up on who John is by visiting the site listed above. John's been through a lot - but the experience has made him a stronger person.
We'll see you in Red Lake County on Veteran's Day - November 11th!
