The State of Minnesota held its Veterans Day Celebration at the Inver Grove Heights Veterans Memorial Community Center today. It is always an impressive. event. For one, the 34th Infantry Division Red Bull Band provides the music. Secondly, it is well attended and there is lots of interesting conversation. Third, the speeches help illustrate the importance of observing Veterans Day.
The Keynote speakers were Douglas Bradley and Craig Werner, the authors of “WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE – THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE VIETNAM WAR.” They talked about how important music was to the troops during that time. It was easier to have veterans tell their stories if they first talked about the music that was important to them while they were in Vietnam.
The highlight is always when the Red Bull Band plays the songs for each branch of the military and the people stand when the music for their branch is played.
U.S. Senators Klobuchar and Franken were in attendance as were U.S. Representatives Tim Walz, Tom Emmer, and Jason Lewis. They did an very good job of emphasizing the importance of our military and paid tribute to them.
Truly a special way to observe Veterans Day.