Former NASA astronaut Jack Lousma draws mostly cheers from his remarks on service, faith and patriotism

By John Molene

Patriotism, pride and a little dose of politics were served Saturday  at the ninth annual “We Salute Our Veterans” program at Grace Church.

Area veterans were saluted Saturday with a stirring mix of songs, music, flags, prayers, speeches and support.

“It’s a great program,” said first-time attendee Charles Smith, a World War II veteran from Bloomington. “I liked the speakers, the food and seeing some old buddies. And it’s nice to be recognized for what you’ve done.”

Former NASA astronaut and Marine Corps pilot Jack Lousma was the keynote speaker and delivered a speech devoted to his service experiences, his faith and his world view.

“Freedom is not free and will be maintained only with constant vigilance,” Lousma told the audience.

“Our job is not done,” Lousma added. “There are threats on the horizon. We have two enemies, one external and one internal. Both are working to destroy our society ... the enemy without is Islamic jihad.

“The second enemy is the enemy within, which is secularism, whose aim is to remove God from America,” Lousma went on. “America was founded as a Christian nation. America is a Christian nation. Our people, our churches need to shed our complacency.”

Lousma said he shared the sentiments voiced by Australian education minister Brendan Nelson who said that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should “shape up or get out.” That statement drew a round of applause from the gathering.

The veterans and their families gave Lousma a rousing reception after his speech, but at least one vet wished he’d not talked politics.

“I think he should have kept the Muslims out of it. Other than that, I think he did a good job,” said Mike Brand, a Vietnam vet from Richfield.

“I think it’s a great program,” added Brand, who is also the Commander of the Fred Babcock VFW Post 5555.

A pilot who served in the Marine Corps for 25 years before joining NASA in the 1960s, Lousma performed two space walks while aboard Skylab (America’s first space station). He was also the Commander of an orbital test flight of the space shuttle Columbia.

An audience of several hundred veterans, their families and others listened to several other speakers.

The veterans received greetings and praise from four Republican elected officials present, including Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.; U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-6th District; State Sen. David Hann, R-42; and State Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-42B; as well as video greetings from Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Sen, Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.

Organizer of the annual event, the Rev. Dean E. Morin of Grace Church, led the program with a welcome, prayer and recognition of the present veterans.

General Douglas Lee, the most senior chaplain in the Army Reserves, told the veterans that the bond they had in common was service to their country.

“What you have in common – the service men and women of America – is service, and isn’t that what a veteran is all about,” Lee said. “To serve. To maintain and repair. And that’s what veterans have done, and are doing today.

“And another closing aligned word with service is sacrifice,” Lee added. “Our veterans know that freedom is not free and sometimes costs a price.”

Lousma echoed that sentiment, saying, “all gave some, but some gave all. ... Military people don’t serve for wealth or power, but for a way of life … and those who carry a rifle wish more for peace.”

Lousma also spoke at length about how he accepted Jesus Christ as his savior, and developed a personal relationship with God.

“God is directing my life, and I believe God has a plan for each of us,” he said.

Next year’s program will by May 16 but the keynote speaker isn’t yet decided, Morin said.

Eden Prairie’s fallen soldiers

The following are those who were born or lived in Eden Prairie who were killed while serving during the following wars:

Civil War

John McClay

World War I

Max Smith

Howard Edward Clark

Frank Senkyr

Everett Raymond McClay

World War II

Benton Hill

Kenneth Jarrett

Ed Chermak

Elbert Vincent Everett

Robert Plehal

Wilburn W. Finch

Korean War

Gorden Doughty

Vietnam War

John Gens

Douglas Dressen

Robert Gartner Jr.

Iraq War

Tyler Fey

Mickey E. Zaun

Memorial Day is May 26.

Source: Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial Committee