HERALD THE E
November 15, 2019
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VOL. 27 NO.46 NEWENGLANDEXTRA.com
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In the “Two Front” play performed in New England Sunday, for some returning soldiers in World War II, there was only one last goodbye. Herald photo / Brad Mosher
‘Two Fronts’ tribute earns standing ovation By Brad Mosher The Herald It was one-act play trying to focus on the impact war can have on people, whether fight-
ing overseas or on the home front building the machines needed on the front lines. It was World War II. It was mail call. It was working on an assembly line.
Local veterans were a big part of the audience during Sunday’s performance of “Two Fronts” in New England’s Memorial Hall. Herald photo / Brad Mosher
It was launching an attack in Europe... and someone getting a visit back on the home front that was always feared. It was also something else... The one-act play performed by students from New England as a way to honor local veterans on the eve of Veterans Day, according Adrien Kathrein, one of the directors of the play. In return, the cast got a standing ovation from the audience along with something unexpected... a chance to see an actual Purple Heart that had been given to a local soldier for being wounded in action many years ago. The play would also be performed for the student body at school as well as in a drama competition in Dickinson several days later. “It was awesome...fantastic,” Kathrein said after the play concluded Sunday afternoon in the Memorial Hall in New England. “We have a little bit of work there, but they are ready.” On one side of the stage, it
was the women on the home front working in a factory.... on the other side, it was a small group of soldiers in harm’s way. Jasmine Augare, Madison Spencer, Sebella Sorenson, Aspen Barnedt, Bailey Urlacher and Kayla Ehlis played the line workers with a gruff supervisor, played by Stetson Urlacher. Leah Ehlis was on both fronts in the play – as a mother on the home front and a German girl hiding from American soldiers. In uniform, it was Aaron Phillips, Justin Kathrein, Matthew Bock, Jaxon Hewson, Wyatt Dorner, Will Schmidt and Avery Frank focusing on the fighting. The fight at home included handling a scared deserter, reacting and celebrating to the radio broadcast of the end of the War in Europe.... and getting bad news from a telegram carrier. On the War Front, it was being scared, the quiet moments, the blur of an attack and the sacrifices made by some for
others. It was a small stage for a world war, but Kathrein and fellow director Shannay White tried to use as much of the Memorial Hall as they could, with soldiers scrambling up the aisles amid the audience as they attacked a German position.... The production by New England Public Drama had a cast of 18, with an additional cast of four handling the sound effects, lighting and staging (Ace Fischer, Michael Frank and Chase Dhamers). Brenna Wert was the stage manager and Chantel Conrad handled the makeup, hair and costuming. After the end of the play, Witte thanked the students and the community members who helped put the play together. Then Georgeanne Schmidt stood up in the audience. “I have my father’s Purple Heart here. I would like to show it to them (the cast).” The award was then passed from cast member to cast member.
Index Local veterans keep memories, patriotism alive Local
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for the free will offering meal, according to one of the people who attended the event. The veterans monument in Legion Park has just been updated to include the names of those who were initially overlooked or who died in the last year: Harold Auer, Teddy Dauenhauer, Fred Frenzel, Louis Frenzel, Norbert Fries, John Hummel, Otto Imhoff, Ronald Kelsch, Donald Kjos, Norman Laufer, Rod Messer, Ernie Messmer, Pete Ressler, Art Roemmich, Carl Roemmich, Otto Roemmich, William Roemmich, Bob Ross, and Willie Trieb.
Staff Report In Mott, honoring local veterans can come with a meal at the Knights of Columbus building. Or visiting Legion Park with snow on the ground surrounding its memorials. Or visiting the veterans section of the Mott Gallery of History and Art in downtown Mott – but they would need an appointment for that visit since the gallery/museum has closed for the season. In Regent, the Hettinger County Historical Society has a wall of photos of local veterans in their museum. The Veterans Day meal drew more than 100 people to the Knights of Columbus building
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The list of names on the veterans memorial in Mott’s Legion Park has grown with 19 more being added recently. Courtesy photo / Jack Griffin
(If you know a deceased veteran whose name is not on the monument, alert the Mott American Legion – Taylor Skartvedt Post 71 by calling 701-824-3170.)
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