WHO WE ARE HONORING AT THE 2022 BLUE CHRISTMAS?

The Traill County VSO along with the Hatton American Legion and Auxiliary will be hosting the 2022 Blue Christmas Veterans Remembrance Service. This Service is to honor all of the Traill County Veterans who have passed away in 2022. The Hatton American Legion Auxiliary has been lovingly creating keepsake ornaments to place on the tree during the Blue Christmas Ceremony.  The 24 Veterans that will be honored at the 2022 Blue Christmas are as follows:

1.          Larry Aasen-Army;
2.          David John Anderson-Army;
3.          Duane Anderson-National Guard;
4.          Robert Stanley Arnold-Navy;
5.          Wayne Joseph Bahl-Army;
6.           Gary Allen Christians-Army;
7.           Don V. Eberhardt-Army;
8.           Arlen Gary Eggen-Army;
9.           John Miles Enger-Army;
10. Timothy George Hoff-Army;
11. Allan Henry Holt-Army;
12. Myron Eral Gunderson-Army;
13. Donald L. Jacobson-Army;
14. James Lande-Army;
15. Maynard Mattern-Navy;
16. Duane Allen Malley-Army;
17. Lynn C. Melhus-Army;
18. Ordell Harold Olstad-Army;
19. Paul H. Stockton-Air Force;
20. John Lawrence Weber-Army;
21. Milton Winger-Army;
22. Robert J. Sharpe-Air Force;
23. Monroe Pederson-Army;
24. Jerry Lee Wright-Army

This event is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. If you know a Traill County Veteran that should be honored at the Blue Christmas Service please contact the Traill County VSO office at: 701-430-7059.

WHAT: BLUE CHRISTMAS VETERANS REMEMBERANCE SERVICE

WHEN: DECEMBER 6^th at 7:00-8:00pm

WHERE: HATTON COMMUNITY CENTER

HOW CAN WE HONOR OUR VETERANS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON?

The Buxton-Reynolds Generation II Cloverbuds 4-H Club believes in the power of young people.  They empower our young people with the skills to lead for a lifetime. They provide a research-based experience that includes a mentor, a hands-on project, and a meaningful leadership opportunity to improve the world around us. In the past, this group has made Valentine’s Day cards for our local Veterans. However, this year they have chosen a hands-on project to honor the Traill County Veterans for Christmas. 13 Cloverbud students ages 6-14 created a Holiday Tribute Display with homemade ornaments as a “little salute of thanks” to our Veterans. These dedicated hardworking 4-H members include:

1. Casyn Arvidson
2. Adelaide Cieplak
3. Danielle Cieplak
4. Cole Erdmann
5. Dalton Erdmann
6. Caleb Kloster
7. Jared Kloster
8. Levi Kloster
9. Mallory Kloster
10. Meghan Moch
11. Michaela Moch
12. Molly Moch
13. Kasper Moch

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL 4-H GROUPS?

4‑H reaches almost six million young people through our community of 100 public universities. Programs are delivered by 3,500 4‑H professionals and 500,000 volunteers. Young people experience 4‑H through school and community clubs, in-school and after-school programs and 4‑H camps.  To learn more about our local Traill County 4-H programs contact 4-H leader Sara Kloster at 701-212-8108 or email at: s.kloster@hotmail.com

WHERE CAN I VIEW OUR LOCAL 4-H HOLIDAY TRIBUTE DISPLAY?

This 4-H homemade holiday tribute will be on display at the Blue Christmas Veterans Remembrance Service on Dec 6^th from 7pm-8pm at the Hatton Community Center. After December 6^th you can view the 4-H Holiday Tribute Display, from Dec 7^th-31^st at the Hillsboro Court House.

The Blue Christmas Service is to honor all the Traill County Veterans who have passed away in 2022. It will be a time to remember and recognize the service and sacrifice of our local veterans including a symbolic tribute. This event is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend. If you know of a Traill County Veteran who has passed in 2022 contact the Traill County VSO office at: 701-430-7059.

WHAT: BLUE CHRISTMAS VETERANS REMEMBERANCE SERVICE & 4-H HOLIDAY TRIBUTE DISPLAY

WHEN: DECEMBER 6^th at 7:00-8:00pm

WHERE: HATTON COMMUNITY CENTER/OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

HOW CAN WE HONOR OUR VETERANS THIS VETERANS DAY 2022?

1)THURSDAY, NOV 10^th: A VETERANS DAY PROGRAM- will take place at the Hillsboro Event Center starting at 12:30pm.

2)THURSDAY, NOV 10^th: A VETERANS DAY MUSICAL SALUTE- will be performed at the Hatton School Main Gym at 2:45pm. All Veterans and friends and family are invited for a gathering in honor of their brave service.

3)FRIDAY, NOV 11^th: A VFW RIFLE VOLLEY- will commence at the Traill County Veterans Memorial outside the Hillsboro Courthouse beginning at 11:00am.

4)SUNDAY, NOV 13^h: A VETERANS DAY DINNER- will be served at the Hatton Community Center from Noon-2:00pm. Hosted by the American Legion Auxiliary. All Veterans and their families are welcome.

5)NOV 6^th-NOV 11^th: OPERATION GREEN LIGHT- Show your support for Veterans and their families by changing one light bulb to a green bulb and share it using the hashtag#OperationGreenLight.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY?

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day until Congress replaced “Armistice” with “Veterans” in 1954. This Day is a Federal Holiday in the United States and is observed annually on November 11^th to honor the military Veterans of the United States Armed Forces.

Veterans Day is exceptional day of honor as it celebrates the service of ALL U.S. Military Veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who had died while in military service and Armed Forces Day, honors those whom are currently serving in the U.S. military and the National POW/MIA Recognition Day honors those who were a prisoner of war.

WHAT IS THE MEDAL OF HONOR?

The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest award for military valor in action. It is authorized for any military service member who “distinguishes himself/herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his/her life above and beyond the call of duty.” To read stories about these Living Heroes please visit the Congressional Medal of Honor Society at www.cmohs.org

MEDAL OF HONOR-LIVING HEROES

1. JOHN PHILIP BACA Vietnam War – U.S. Army FEBRUARY 10, 1970 QUAN LOI, PHUOC LONG PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
2. DONALD EVERETT BALLARD Vietnam War – U.S. Navy MAY 16, 1968 QUANG TRI PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
3. HARVEY CURTISS “BARNEY” BARNUM JR. Vietnam War – U.S. Marine Corps DECEMBER 18, 1965 OUTSIDE THE VILLAGE OF KY PHU, QUANG TIN PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
4. DAVID G BELLAVIA War on Terrorism (Iraq) – U.S. Army NOVEMBER 10, 2004 FALLUJAH, IRAQ
5. DWIGHT W. BIRDWELL Vietnam War – U.S. Army JANUARY 31, 1968 TAN SON NHUT AIR BASE, VIETNAM
6.  PATRICK HENRY BRADY Vietnam War – U.S. Army JANUARY 6, 1968 NEAR CHU LAI, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
7. PAUL WILLIAM BUCHA Vietnam War – U.S. Army MARCH 16 – 19, 1968 NEAR PHUOC VINH, BINH DUONG PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
8. EDWARD C BYERS, JR. War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Navy DECEMBER 8 – 9, 2012 QARGHAHYI DISTRICT OF LAGHMAN, AFGHANISTAN
9. WILLIAM KYLE CARPENTER War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Marine Corps NOVEMBER 21, 2010 MARJAH DISTRICT, HELMAND PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
10. TY MICHAEL CARTER War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Army OCTOBER 3, 2009 KAMDESH DISTRICT, NURISTAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
11. BRUCE P CRANDALL Vietnam War – U.S. Army NOVEMBER 14, 1965 LANDING ZONE X-RAY, IA DRANG VALLEY, VIETNAM
12. SAMMY LEE DAVIS Vietnam War – U.S. Army NOVEMBER 18, 1967 FIREBASE CUDGIL, WEST OF CAI LAY, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
13. DREW DENNIS DIX Vietnam War – U.S. Army JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 1, 1968 CHAU DOC PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
14. ROGER H.C. DONLON Vietnam War – U.S. Army JULY 6, 1964 NEAR NAM DONG, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
15. JOHN J. DUFFY Vietnam War – U.S. Army APRIL 14 – 15, 1972 CENTRAL HIGHLANDS, VIETNAM
16. FREDERICK EDGAR FERGUSON Vietnam War – U.S. Army JANUARY 31, 1968 HUE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
17.  MICHAEL JOHN FITZMAURICE Vietnam War – U.S. Army MARCH 23, 1971 KHESANH, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
18. JAMES PHILLIP FLEMING Vietnam War – U.S. Air Force NOVEMBER 26, 1968 NEAR DUC CO, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
19. ROBERT FRANKLIN FOLEY Vietnam War – U.S. Army NOVEMBER 5, 1966 NEAR QUAN DAU TIENG, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
20. HAROLD ARTHUR FRITZ Vietnam War – U.S. Army JANUARY 11, 1969 NEAR AN LOC, BINH LONG PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
21. DENNIS M. FUJII Vietnam War – U.S. Army FEBRUARY 18 – 22, 1971 LAOS & VIETNAM
22. SALVATORE AUGUSTINE GIUNTA War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Army OCTOBER 25, 2007 KORENGAL VALLEY, AFGHANISTAN
23. FLORENT A GROBERG War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Army AUGUST 8, 2012 ASADABAD, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
24. FRANK ALOYSIOUS HERDA Vietnam War – U.S. Army JUNE 29, 1968 NEAR DAK TO, QUANG TRANG PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
25. ROBERT RONALD INGRAM Vietnam War – U.S. Navy MARCH 28, 1966 QUANG NGAI PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
26.  JACK HOWARD JACOBS Vietnam War – U.S. Army MARCH 9, 1968 KIEN PHONG PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
27. DON JENKINS Vietnam War – U.S. Army JANUARY 6, 1969 KIEN PHONG PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
28. THOMAS GUNNING KELLEY Vietnam War – U.S. Navy JUNE 15, 1969 ONG MUONG CANAL, KIEN HOA PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
29. ALLAN JAY KELLOGG JR. Vietnam War – U.S. Marine Corps MARCH 11, 1970 QUANG NAM PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
30. JOSEPH ROBERT KERREY Vietnam War – U.S. Naval Reserve MARCH 14, 1969 NEAR NHA TRANG BAY, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
31. PETER CHARLES LEMON Vietnam War – U.S. Army APRIL 1, 1970 FIRE SUPPORT BASE ILLINGWORTH, TAY NINH PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
32. GARY LEE LITTRELL Vietnam War – U.S. Army APRIL 4 – 8, 1970 KONTUM PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
33. JAMES EVERETTE LIVINGSTON Vietnam War – U.S. Marine Corps MAY 2, 1968 DAI DO, QUANG TRI PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
34. ALLEN JAMES LYNCH Vietnam War – U.S. Army DECEMBER 15, 1967 NEAR MY AN (2), BINH DINH PROVINCE, VIETNAM
35. WALTER JOSEPH MARM JR. Vietnam War – U.S. Army NOVEMBER 14, 1965 VICINITY OF IA DRANG VALLEY, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
36. JAMES C MCCLOUGHAN Vietnam War – U.S. Army MAY 13 – 15, 1969 TAM KY, NUI YON HILL, VIETNAM
37. DAKOTA LOUIS MEYER War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Marine Corps SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
38. HIROSHI MIYAMURA Korean War – U.S. Army APRIL 24, 1951 NEAR TAEJON-NI, KOREA
39.  ROBERT JOSEPH MODRZEJEWSKI Vietnam War – U.S. Marine Corps JULY 15 – 18, 1966 REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
40. MELVIN MORRIS Vietnam War – U.S. Army SEPTEMBER 17, 1969 CHI LANG, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
41. THOMAS ROLLAND NORRIS Vietnam War – U.S. Navy APRIL 10 – 13, 1972 QUANG TRI PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
42. ROBERT EMMETT O’MALLEY Vietnam War – U.S. Marine Corps AUGUST 18, 1965 NEAR AN CU’ONG 2, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
43. ROBERT MARTIN PATTERSON Vietnam War – U.S. Army MAY 6, 1968 NEAR LA CHU, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
44. THOMAS PATRICK PAYNE War on Terrorism (Iraq) – U.S. Army OCTOBER 22, 2015 HAWIJA, KIRKUK PROVINCE, IRAQ
45. LEROY ARTHUR PETRY War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Army MAY 26, 2008 PAKTYA PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
46.  RYAN M PITTS War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Army JULY 13, 2008 VICINITY OF WANAT VILLAGE, KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
47. EARL D. PLUMLEE War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Army AUGUST 28, 2013 FORWARD OPERATING BASE GHAZNI, GHAZNI PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
48. RALPH PUCKETT, JR. Korean War – U.S. Army NOVEMBER 25 – 26, 1950 HILL 205, VICINITY OF UNSAN, KOREA
49. ALFRED V RASCON Vietnam War – U.S. Army MARCH 16, 1966 LONG KHANH PROVINCE, VIETNAM
50. RONALD ERIC RAY Vietnam War – U.S. Army JUNE 19, 1966 IA DRANG VALLEY, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
51. GORDON RAY ROBERTS Vietnam War – U.S. Army JULY 11, 1969 THUA THIEN PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
52. JOSE RODELA Vietnam War – U.S. Army SEPTEMBER 1, 1969 PHUOC LONG PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
53.  CLINTON LAVOR ROMESHA War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Army OCTOBER 3, 2009 OUTPOST KEATING, KAMDESH DISTRICT, NURISTAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
54. GARY MICHAEL ROSE Vietnam War – U.S. Army SEPTEMBER 11 – 14, 1970 LAOS
55. CLARENCE EUGENE SASSER Vietnam War – U.S. Army JANUARY 10, 1968 DING TUONG PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
56. BRITT KELLY SLABINSKI War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Navy MARCH 4, 2002 TAKUR GHAR, AFGHANISTAN
57.  JAMES MICHAEL SPRAYBERRY Vietnam War – U.S. Army APRIL 25, 1968 REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
58. WILLIAM D SWENSON War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Army SEPTEMBER 8, 2009 KUNAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
59. JAMES ALLEN TAYLOR Vietnam War – U.S. Army NOVEMBER 9, 1967 WEST OF QUE SON, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
60. BRIAN MILES THACKER Vietnam War – U.S. Army MARCH 31, 1971 FIRE BASE 6, KONTUM PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
61. MICHAEL EDWIN THORNTON Vietnam War – U.S. Navy OCTOBER 31, 1972 REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
62. JAY R VARGAS Vietnam War – U.S. Marine Corps APRIL 30 – MAY 2, 1968 DAI DO, QUANG TRI PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
63. GARY GEORGE WETZEL Vietnam War – U.S. Army JANUARY 8, 1968 NEAR AP DONG AN, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
64. KYLE J WHITE War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Army NOVEMBER 9, 2007 NURISTAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN
65. MATTHEW O WILLIAMS War on Terrorism (Afghanistan) – U.S. Army APRIL 6, 2008 SHOK VALLEY, NURISTAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN