Brainerd VFW Stories from 2024
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April 25, 2024: The Brainerd VFW was thanked for the donation of $5,000 to have a motorized projector screen purchased and installed at Garfield Elementary School in Brainerd.
It all started in September 2023 when physical education teacher David Baloba and music teacher Heather Larson, from Garfield School, asked for the donation. VFW members were personally thanked by Larson at the event. She was the program director leading the first grade a music program, followed by the VFW recognition, then a second-grade music program.
April 13, 2024: A good crowd gathered as our own Helen Doucette celebrated her 90th birthday at the Brainerd VFW. Helen, as you may know, is the Senior Vice President of the Brainerd VFW Auxiliary.
April 12, 2024: The VFW Auxiliary exists to help veterans. We at Post 1647 were recently asked to make laundry bags to give to homeless veterans. Our member, Cheryl Hull, set to work to do just that, and immediately gave five of them to the Crow Wing County Veteran Service office. If you'd like to help with sewing tasks for veterans, just let someone know and we'll get you the patterns for the items they need.
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April 9, 2024: A funeral was held for longtime Brainerd VFW and Honor Guard member Matt Gilgenbach who died at age 91. Internment was in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley.
Matt is survived by his children Diane, Anthony (Kaytey), Adam, Matthew Jr, his grandchildren Anthony Jr. and Ava Maria. Matt was a proud Army Veteran who served in Korea. A reception was held at the Brainerd VFW. |
Matt Gilgenbach grew up on a farm near Wahpeton, North Dakota. He joined the U.S. Army in 1952 and served until 1955. Matt was with the 4th Field Artillery Battalion at Camp Ripley. He remembers transporting 75 mm artillery shells on pack mules at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, something a farm boy would know how to do. Matt served with the Big Red One in Japan, Korea, and Okinawa. He was a Corporal and a squad leader. Back in civilian life, Matt was a plumber and construction foreman until his retirement.
March 21, 2024: (l-r) KBLB Radio Program Director Bill Satre, Richard Schmidt and Mark Persons from the Brainerd VFW. The interview was heard, via recordings, on 93.3 KBLB-FM (B93) and Cool 103.5 FM.
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March 21, 2024: (l-r) KLIZ Radio Program Director Danny Wild, then Richard Schmidt and Mark Persons from the Brainerd VFW. The interview was heard live on 107.5 KLIZ-FM at 8:15 am.
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February 1, 2024: The Four Chaplains story was told on Brainerd radio stations Chaplain Rios and Mark Persons of the Brained VFW. Also https://fourchaplains.org/
January 20, 2024: The Brainerd Honor Guard and the Auxiliary Honor Guard paid their respects at the funeral for Brainerd VFW Auxiliary member Karen Hanson, a long-time Brainerd VFW Auxiliary member who passed away at age 76. Karen was the wife of the Club Gambling Manager Chuck Hanson for 54 years. They had three children. Obituary. A celebration of life reception was held at the Brainerd VFW.