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John Vessey Jr., former chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, spoke at Cragun's Family
Fun Day on Sunday at the resort. The event honored military
personnel and their
families with games and rides. The event benefited the Minnesota
Military Family
Foundation. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls |
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A TIME FOR FUN - EVENT CELEBRATES VETERANS WITH
JOY (MAY, 2010)
CRAGUN'S FAMILY FUN DAY
By MATT ERICKSON
Staff Writer
EAST GULL LAKE - On Monday, solemn Memorial Day observations are
scheduled across the U.S. in honor of those who have died serving
the country.
On Sunday at Cragun's Conference and Golf Resort in East Gull Lake,
the mood was anything but somber as hundreds of people, mostly
veterans and their families, gathered for the Cragun's Family Fun
Day military appreciation event.
"Today it's time to have fun," said Retired Gen. John Vessey Jr.,
former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was the keynote
speaker for Sunday's event. "I'm sure all the veterans who have
served, have given their lives, would say to us, 'Go ahead and have
some fun.' When we put flags on their graves and have more solemn
ceremonies than we're having (Sunday), they'd also say, 'Thanks for
those ceremonies.' But more important, they'd say to us, 'Preserve
what we have fought for. Preserve the freedoms we have fought for.'"
Cragun's Family Fun Day, in its first year, featured an entire day
of events including Humvee rides for kids, carnival games, a
military obstacle course, food, an animal show and a silent auction.
Though the skies threatened, the rain held off for the start of
Sunday's events, with a parade of Patriot Guard riders, a 21-gun
salute and color guard presentation, taps and the National Anthem.
"It's been perfect," Dutch Cragun, owner of Cragun's Resort, said
following Vessey's speech. "We aren't melting in the sun. Like
General Vessey said, it's the job of a military man to stand in the
rain, but we didn't have to do that, either. It's cool outside and
what an amazing guy he's been. (Vessey) is in his 80s and here he is
walking around, talking to people and shaking hands. This is a
national treasure and we're got him here for a couple of hours. It's
been wonderful."
Vessey asked those in attendance to say a little prayer of thanks
for every veteran who had served the U.S., from the Battle of
Yorktown during the Revolutionary War to the Iraq War today.
He also asked that people preserve the freedoms soldiers have fought
for by keeping the country's defenses strong, paying attention to
the U.S.'s relations with the rest of the world, obeying laws,
paying taxes, making sensible votes and giving children a good
education.
"Then soldiers would understand what they fought for would be
worthwhile," Vessey said. "If we remember that, and each one of us
takes personally the responsibility to preserve the freedoms for
which those people fought, we'll continue to have a wonderful nation
"We've got the best nation in world. It's not perfect - it has
warts, sores and plenty of opportunities for improvement but it is
in fact the best, and only we can make it better."
Minnesota Army National Guard Maj. Michael Murray, who introduced
Vessey, said the most important lesson he learned at basic training
in 1988 was the importance of having someone watch his back.
When he was deployed to Iraq for 16 months and had to leave his wife
and young son behind at home, that lesson proved more true than he
realized, Murray said.
"This gives me an opportunity to actually see, or feel, those boots
next to me, those people in the community that have reached out and
covered my back," while he was deployed, Murray said. "That was the
part I never thought I would have to worry about - my family. But in
the months I was in Iraq, nothing worried more. It gave me comfort
that people like yourselves were here to take care of them."
All the proceeds from Sunday's event were go toward the Minnesota
Military Family Foundation, Cragun said. His resort also will serve
as a drop site for any donations - cash or items - that people want
to make for soldiers and their families.
Kathryn Stotka, director of sales at Cragun's and organizer of
Sunday's events, said she was moved by the ceremony to open the
program.
"It gives you goose bumps. When they did the color guard, taps and
the National Anthem there wasn't a dry eye in the house, I can tell
you that," Stotka said. "A lot of people are so far removed from
this, it's like a little piece of reality because these (soldiers)
lived it every day."
Cragun said it is his intention to make the Family Fun Day military
appreciation event an annual tradition at his resort.
"(Sunday) was the first and we hope to have many, many more after
today," Cragun said. "(Memorial Day) is to honor dead but today
we're honoring our living solders and the people who have served."
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com
or 855-5857. |
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