“Please keep your hats on – that’s an order,” said Col. Howie Krinkie, although he was offering an invocation.

Even with the approximately 27-degree temperature, hundreds came out to dedicate Eden Prairie’s new Veterans Memorial. They kept their hats on – not to mention their coats, gloves and blankets.

“We had a much better turnout than I ever expected,” said John Mallo, the Eden Prairie resident who first brought the idea of building a Veterans Memorial to the Eden Prairie City Council. Mallo served as chair of the Veterans Memorial Committee, which completed its work in less than three years.

The Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial is dedicated to all veterans, from all branches of the military; two sculptures by Neil Brodin of Brodin Studios are dedicated to the sacrifice and dedication of veterans as well as world peace. The sculptures were installed only last week.

The memorial was paid for through public and private donations totaling more than $600,000, including in-kind contributions.

“Although this is the final phase of the memorial it has been designed as a living memorial allowing additional names to be added as requested,” according to a news release. “In addition, there is a portion of the memorial called the ‘Honor Wall,’ which memorializes 17 people from Eden Prairie who have been killed in service dating back to the Civil War.”

Keynote speaker Brigadier Gen. Dennis Schulstad told the assembled group that the United States is “the greatest nation that has ever been formed.

“Don’t you ever tell me that something like this is not meaningful,” he said of the memorial. “This is incredibly, incredibly meaningful. And the young men who are serving today, those who will serve in the future and those who have served in the past appreciate what you are doing here.”

For more information about the memorial, visit www.epveteransmemorial.org.

Eden Prairie aviator was the first woman to fly a B-29, in 1944, when she was serving as a test pilot.

By John Molene

Dressed in a blue blazer that shows off her proudly won gold Navy aviation wings and a host of other flying honors, Mildred “Micky” Axton apologizes for the mess as she opens her apartment door.

 A member of the 68th AAA Gun Battalion, Jim Moran can still see the enemy troops, and feel the bitter cold, from nearly 60 years ago

By John Molene

To a generation of Americans brought up on conflicts in Iraq and the Middle East, the Korean War of 1950 to 1953 must seem like ancient history.

Army Pvt. Chase C. Nault has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises, according to a news release.

The Viking Squadron, U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, trains crews to use Aerial Imaging (AI) equipment during flights.
The crews send the images ground teams, firefighters, law enforcement, and government officials what challenges they might face on the ground, according to a Viking squadron press release.
“Whether it is to view damage to structures, floodwaters, forest fires, grass fires, building fires, animal populations, plane crashes, vehicle crashes and missing persons, the scenarios seem endless,” the release stated.

Marine Cpl. Joe Piram turned age 23 on July 20 and his birthday included a major gift:

“He got to stand up for the first time in a month,” said Joe's father, Charlie Piram.

Air Force Airman 1st Class Christopher W. Breit has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.
During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization and military customs and courtesies; performed drill and ceremony marches and received physical training, rifle marksmanship, field training exercises and special training in human relations.
In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

By John Mallo

A Civil War Soldier

John McClay

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY GRANT John McClay in his Civil War uniform.

An author event is set from 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 30, at the Eden Prairie Library.

Jim Olson's book, "Boomer," was selected May 14 as the Midwest Book Award winner in the category of General Fiction by the Midwest Independent Publishers Association at the Midwest Book Awards Ceremony, according to the book's Web site.

He is set to have a reading, talk and signing at the Eden Prairie Library, 565 Prairie Center Drive. The event is sponsored by the DFL Veterans Caucus. For more information, visit www.edenvaleglenpublishing.com.