Reflections
A Daily News special section that recognizes our veterans REFLECTIONS
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
World War II serviceman ‘Smoky’ Cross set to speak at Veterans Day luncheon By TREY FRITZ
editor@faribault.com
O
S-SM set to honor veterans with performance of ‘The Things They Carried’ By KEVIN KREIN
kkrein@northfieldnews.com
The annual Veterans Day flag-raising will be held at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday in front of the Rice County Courthouse. (Daily News file photo)
luncheon for vets at the American Legion. At 3 p.m., the Sterling House will dedicate its Veterans Wall, featuring a bugle player, color guard and recognition of the home’s vets, including Smoky Cross, Richard Flum, who was in the Vietnam War on active duty from 1958-1963, and in the reserves for 44 years; and Herb Rund, who was in the Army and served from 19541956.
Faribault.com
nce a year we give thanks to the people who risk their lives for this country. Veterans Day was originally called “Armistice Day” and began on Nov. 11, 1919, to commemorate the cease-fire that helped close the curtain of war during World War I. After World War I ended, Congress passed a resolution in 1926 to S.F. “Smoky” Cross, make it an annual courtesy of Sterling observance (a holi- House. (Photo submitted) day recognized by some), and in 1938, the government made Veterans Day a national holiday. The Daily News interviewed “Smoky” Cross, the honorary guest speaker at this year’s Veterans Day memorial service. Smoky resides at Sterling House Retirement Home. He served in the military in a variety of ways during World War II: everything from infantry to doing a little military police work. Through his time in the military, Smoky saw the fall of Berlin and was stationed everywhere from the Mojave Desert to a military base near the North Pole. When the war was over, Smoky said he wanted to be honorably discharged, but his officers told him he was too “essential” for the military. All the paratroopers were getting discharged so Smoky pulled a few strings and was able to join the paratroopers. “There are tricks in every trade,” he said. After being discharged he was able to come back the United States; he first ended up in New York, and then Wisconsin, finally returning to his home state of Minnesota, and finally, Faribault in 1945. He married Betty, his wife, and they had three children. He continued to fly his private plane until much later in life, with Betty serving as his co-pilot on their adventures. A full slate of events are planned to honor Faribault’s veterans on Tuesday. A vets breakfast will be held from 7-9 a.m. at the Sterling House, and it is open to any vet plus one guest. At 10:45 a.m. the veterans flag-raising ceremony will be held in front of the Rice County Courthouse, and at noon, Smoky will be the featured speaker at a noon
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As part of their Fessler-Lampert series for the year, Shattuck-St. Mary’s is preparing to honor veterans with a performance of author Tim O’Brien’s semi-autobiographical collection of stories “The Things They Carried.” O’Brien’s book was published in 1990 and it tracks his personal journey from his “innocent years” in a small town in western Minnesota to the jungles of Vietnam as a young American soldier and back again. The book was adapted to the stage as a one-man show by Twin Cities-based writer and performer Jim Stowell. Stowell approached actor Stephen D’Ambrose about being in the show, and he has been performing it for three years now. Prior to that, D’Ambrose was familiar with the book. “That was my generation,” he recalled. “I did not go to Vietnam, but I did have many friends that did. The reason I wanted to take all of this on was to honor veterans and those serving, in some way, if I could.” D’Ambrose said that some of the most rewarding moments from his time with the show have come during the talkback portions after the performance. “Veterans would stand up and salute or flash the peace sign,” he said. “The Things They Carried” has also served as a means of closure for parents who are struggling to understand what their children who have served may be going through. D’Ambrose recalled that during an ASL performance, a deaf
IF YOU GO What: The Things They Carried When: 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11 Where: ShattuckSt. Mary’s Newhall Auditorium, Faribault Cost: $15 adults, $9 students Of note: This event is free of charge to veterans and active duty service members. To reserve seats: Call 507-333-1620
father who recently had a son come home from Afghanistan was signing back and forth with the show’s interpreter to explain that the performance had helped him achieve a greater sense of understanding. “That’s what makes it worthwhile,” D’Ambrose said. “If I can tell their story. Those are the reasons I took this on.” Amy Wolff with Shattuck-St. Mary’s said that this is the first time she can recall where the school tied in a Fessler-Lampert event to Veterans Day. Wolff said that students in grades 10 through 12 will have a chance to see “The Things They Carried” performed during the school day, and to discuss the show after with D’Ambrose. Wolff will also be on hand during the evening performance with information on the Beyond The Yellow Ribbon program. “We really just want to build awareness,” she said. “And also to thank veterans for their service.”
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