VETERAN'S DAY 2024 - American Legion Post #40

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VETERAN'S DAY 2024

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VETERAN’S DAY PROGRAM
November 11,2024, 2:20pm

*HOMETOWN HEROES PROJECT BACKGROUND*
    Welcome to Hometown Heroes! This was a new joint project of the entire Lanesboro Legion family.
    Thank you to Auxiliary members Mindy Albrecht-Benson, Glee Claussen, and Jan Meyer who spearheaded the project, processed the responses and put everything together.
     A special thank you to our speaker, Master Sergeant AJ Anderson. AJ grew up in Lanesboro with his parents Dan and Maureen. He graduated from LHS in 2005.

The objectives of the project were:
1. Hear personal veterans' stories about local veterans
2. Celebrate local veterans
3. Provide Veterans Day topic and speaker
4. Provide positive image and values of serving in the military to students: Duty, Honor, Country
5. Increase and enhance "the face" of the Legion in the community and school

Click here for AJ's Speech

Master Sergeant AJ Anderson
Evaluator Loadmaster
4000+ hours on the C130H

    I grew up in Lanesboro, MN with my parents Dan and Maureen. The Horihan farms north of town are my family on my mother’s side, my dad’s family is from the Duluth area.
    I graduated from LHS in 2005, played football, basketball, golf and participated in other school activities.
    I signed up for the Air Force in 2005, left for basic April 25, 2006. I completed training and arrived at my Active-Duty base on my 20^th birthday: March 10^th, 2007.
    I deployed 4 times in support of Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan as well as once to Coronet Oak in Puerto Rico for drug interdiction support and once for Unified Response to bring food, fuel and medical aid to the Haitians after the 2010 earthquake.
    I separated from Active Duty in 2010, joined the Minnesota Air National Guard as a Senior Airman.
    I went to school on the GI Bill at Mankato State for two years and Winona State for three to obtain my BS in ACS Biochemistry ($0 paid for my undergrad), and worked at Mayo Clinic in the Biochemical Genetics Laboratory on Tandem Mass Spectrometry for 4 years. (2016-2020).
    My Air National Guard base offered me a full-time spot in August of 2020 and I’ve worked here full time since. I deployed in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2017 in support of Inherent Resolve to battle ISIS. I also deployed in fall of 2023 to Africa in order to support anti-terrorism and stability operations in Somalia.
    I obtained my Masters of Business Administration from the Carlson School of Business at the University of Minnesota in May 2024.
    My wife, my 3-year-old daughter and two dogs live in Faribault, MN and my step daughter is in her first year at Mankato State.
Click here to view AJ's Speech

VETERAN’S FEEDBACK
Thank you to all veterans who took the time to participate in the project. The following is an overview of the responses of the veterans.
MOST CHALLENGING:

Difficulty of reentry after service
Discipline
At 24, enlisted and independent; had to learn discipline & follow instructions
Impact on family life
Experiencing life-threatening injuries in Viet Nam
Leaving home & family at 18 years old
Being away from family for 31 months: no internet, no way to communicate except “snail mail”
Determination to both finish and finish on top of extremely demanding training
Overseeing others

MOST REWARDING:

Opportunity to serve my country, travel and learn about other people/cultures
Learned value of patriotism
Learned how other cultures value freedom and willingness to fight for it
Ability to contribute to the good of my country
Sense of pride
Meeting amazing people
Lifelong friends
Representing Army in 1988 Olympic Trials
Camaraderie, being part of the military family
Family tradition & expectations to serve our country
Assisting family members of service personnel serving in Viet Nam
Being there: feeling trained & prepared to do whatever leadership asked of me
Being part of something big, making great friends, seeing the world & growing up

FUNNY, COMICAL, LIGHT MOMENT:

Twelve hours to go 25 miles
Being asked if I play volleyball
Jumping from C-130: most fun one can have with clothes on
Enlisted w/friend on “Buddy System”: found many humorous moments but Drill Sgt didn’t agree
Leading a squad of doctors & nurses on simulated patrol to rescue & evacuate personnel from a downed helicopter; felt like “Mash” TV show. (Then did salvage one from mountaintop in the Philippines)
As a MN farm boy, fun to travel & swim in the ocean
As I was signing in at Fort Gordon, GA, Joe O’Connor was signing out to go to Korea
Working in Whidbey Island WA: another Lanesboro-ite!
Learned I could accomplish nearly anything I desired through hard work & perseverance
Being mistaken for the General when landing via parachute
On Okinawa, not recognizing food
Scariest: Helped with other officers to quell a riot between black & white troops (1957)
A doctor I worked with came running up the hall shouting “My wife is having the baby.” I asked where his wife was. He stopped and turned around and way at he end of the hall came his wife carrying the suitcase.

MOST VALUABLE LESSON:

Future employers highly value the military experience: more mature, team player
Discipline
Honor our country
Always accomplish your mission
Learning to cooperate
Respect & loyalty, teamwork, discipline, dedication
World doesn’t revolve around my needs: learning other perspectives
Sense of duty
Learned work ethic
GI Bill paid for trade school
Take care of our country, or we won’t have one
Went into service at 19, came out at 23—somewhere in there, I grew up!
Learning resilience and adaptability to overcome obstacles & remain focused under pressure

ADVICE FOR TODAY’S YOUNG PEOPLE:

If undecided about what to do/be, military is good option due to gains listed
Will have pride in serving, more mature & self-confident
Can learn a trade while serving
It’s a great opportunity: go for it!
GI bill will pay for majority of trade school or college after service, or, go to College first and go in
Every young person can benefit from some kind of service to our country
Service will provide many valuable life lessons, opportunities, and connections (an amazing experience!)
Serving your country is an honor and duty
Propose two-years mandatory—European style--service in some form for all youth
Make the best of every opportunity or situation with which you are presented: you will be blessed beyond measure
A great way to make friends, see the world, and discover yourself
Understand your options, educate yourself
“Join the **** Navy because we are the greatest fighting force the world has ever seen! Navy Chief, Navy Pride!”
"Veterans are the backbone of our communities"!

Click here to view AJ's Speech

Have questions or comments? We welcome your opinion. Please email your comments or suggestions to webmaster@lanesboroamericanlegion.org or call Anne at 507-460-9040. Thank you for your support.