Representatives from the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Committee of Crookston, the Crookston VFW Post 1902 and Auxiliary, American Legion Post 20 and Auxiliary, and Disabled American Veterans Post 14 and Auxiliary participated in a Veterans Day program in the Fellowship Hall at Trinity Lutheran Church on Wednesday.
The ceremony was led by Margee Keller and included a Veterans Day prayer from chaplain Jennika Reese, songs performed by the Our Saviors Children’s Choir, a brief presentation on the history of Veterans Day from Polk County Veterans Services Officer Kurt Ellefson, and tributes from representatives of the VFW, American Legion, DAV, and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon.
The program also included the presentation of Quilts of Valor to veterans Loren “Punky” Johnson, Winston Johnson, Gordon “Gordie” Pagnac, and David “Dave” Morgan. These quilts were given to the veterans as part of the Veteran Recognition ceremony held on August 15, but they were not ready at the time and were presented to the veterans on Wednesday.
Each quilt is hand-stitched and includes three layers. The top layer, with its many colors, shapes, and fabrics, represents the many individuals in the community and nation. The quilt’s filler represents the hope that it will bring warmth, comfort, and peace to the veterans. The backing is the strength that supports the other layers and represents the strength of our veterans and the support they receive from their families, the Crookston community, and a grateful nation. Each stitch holding the layers together represents everyone’s love and gratitude.
Keller concluded the service by thanking all veterans and their families for their service and the sacrifices they’ve made to protect our country. She also thanked the Our Saviors choir for their performances and Trinity Lutheran Church for hosting this year’s program.
