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VETERANS DAY
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Wednesday, November 11, 2020 | park rapids enterprise
parkrapidsenterprise.com
Local Marine’s memorial marked 15th anniversary in 2019 By Shannon Geisen sgeisen@parkrapids enterprise.com
he sun shone and a brisk wind whipped the flags atop Bunker Hill Road, where Howard and Trudy Maninga hosted their 15th annual Vietnam and all veterans memorial flag-raising ceremony. With the help of area veterans, their August 2019 tribute recognized all who have served their country and, this year, honored Korean War vets in particular. “The official dates of the Korean War were 1950 to 1957,” Trudy said, although the shooting ended in 1953. “There were 5,725,000 Americans who served during that time – 36,568 of them were killed in action. Those were our brothers. 7,140 were prisoners of war.” Each year, the Maningas hold this special veterans event at their home. A replica of a ship deck and a solemn statue of a soldier overlooks the Ponsford prairie, while the U.S., Armed Forces and POW/ MIA flags wave amid a flower garden. First dedicated in 2005, their memorial has expanded to include replicas of a battlefield bunker and a fighting hole, along with a museum housing a sizeable collec-
tion of Vietnam-era military memorabilia. Howard served in 1967-68 in Vietnam, where he lost fellow Marines in combat. “Fifteen years ago, I started building this memorial. I needed something. I was having a lot of problems,” he said in his opening remarks. “When I went to sleep, dead soldiers told me they wanted a memorial. I got up in the morning, and I started building. I didn’t know what I was doing. I just started building this. Every morning, it was something different. It helped me with the PTSD. It didn’t cure it, but it helped. What really helps a lot is seeing all of you veterans coming here, and maybe it will help you guys.” Howard credited Trudy for saving his life. “The only reason I’m here is because of my wife, Trudy,” he said. “She’s the backbone of the place.” Veterans representing the five branches of the military – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard – retired faded flags, then raised crisp, new ones on Saturday. Assisting with the Army flag were Russ Rasmussen and Lester Ristinen, both Korean War veterans. Jim Palokangas, another Korean vet, replaced the Navy flag.
Kayla Simon
Arthur E. Mills
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U.S. Army E-4 CPL
United States Navy Boatswain’s Mate 3rd
“We’re very honored to have them here today,” Trudy said. Lou Schultz and Ron Masanz raised the Marines flag. “Both of these Marines are over 90 years old,” Trudy pointed out. The worn flags were burned in a ceremony led by members of the U.S. Marine Corps League Star of the North Detachment.
Local Korean War vets
Trudy told the crowd, “I set out to do something different this year. I wanted to interview some Korean War veterans, and I found a couple.” Palokangas was one of them. He served from 1952-55 as an aircraft mechanic on the USS Hornet and USS Midway. “I asked him what he learned the most and he said, ‘To move fast on the flight deck,’” Trudy said. “He worked the flight deck for bombing runs. Several airplanes crashed, and when planes couldn’t come in straight, they would bounce, hit barriers, explode and burn, often taking their pilots with them. Fires would have to be put out.” Palokangas told Trudy that “rough waters would often put a sailor overboard” and a helicopter would “fish them out of there.”
Enterprise file photos
Howard and Trudy Maninga hold an annual Vietnam and all veterans memorial service at their Ponsford home every August. The 2020 ceremony was cancelled due to the pandemic. Attired in his blue dress Marine uniform, Ron Masanz salutes the U.S. Marines’ flag with fellow Marine Bob Johnson as Lou Schultz hoists it skyward. “His ship was never bombed, but they were always in danger,” Trudy continued. “He said he was glad to have
Carl R. Lyburner
James E Cameron Marines Sergeant
Air Force A1C, served 4 years, Korean War
Unit, 8th served, and if the call portation came and he was able, Army Division from he would serve again.” March 1953 to 1955. Rasmussen served with the 351st TransMEMORIAL: Page C8
Dave (Lefty) Anderson
Edward Anton Jonas
U.S. Navy, served 4 years, Vietnam Era
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class, served 4 years on the USS Stallion, 1955-59
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