American Legion, Auxiliary of Blooming Prairie celebrate 97th birthday

“We still look great after 97 years,” a jubilant Julie Hoffman, president of the Blooming Prairie American Legion Auxiliary, told a gathering Thursday night, March 3 at the Servicemen’s Club.
The occasion was a birthday party to celebrate the 97th birthday of Blooming Prairie American Legion Post 52 and its Auxiliary. An estimated 100 attended the get-together.
On hand was Merle McNutt, 97 years of age. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
The evening began with a delicious meatball dinner. Dessert was provided by Darrell Hansen and Frontier Communications.
Four First District American Legion officers were in attendance, including Wayne Hammon Jr., Roland Hanson, Gene Luedtke and Richard Skillestad.
District officer Hanson called the local Legion family “a great family.” These men and women fought for our freedom, Hanson said. He urged those in attendance to pray for the men and women who are currently serving the Armed Forces of the United States.
“It’s togetherness that makes everything work,” Hanson said.
Pat Miner, First District president, greeted Legionnaires and Auxiliary members and thanked all for their service.
Tom Peterson, of the Blooming Prairie Sons of the American Legion, gave a brief update on the progress of the establishment of a Blooming Prairie Veterans Memorial. The second phase of the project is currently under way and that involves raising money, Peterson said.
Peterson said people can help by designating a contribution for a paver, or by just sending a contribution. He said one of his goals was “to be transparent with the monetary gifts” and make financial information available. Keith Holman is treasurer of the group.
Peterson said contributions to date total $18,385.12, with expenses listed at $3,037.15. Most of the expenses targeted costs for making the group a 501C-3 entity, and it paid for transfer of property from the Servicemen’s Club to the memorial corporation.
Forty-five pavers have already been purchased, representing almost half of the space available on the first wall, Peterson said. Goal for the project is to raise $250,000.
“It’s a fitting memorial for a noble cause,” Peterson remarked.
The evening concluded with a musical salute to “Service in War and Peace” by viola performer Aaron Fennell, 17. He was accompanied in his recital by his mother, Tanya Fennell, and assisted by his father, the Rev. Matt Fennell.
The younger Fennell played four initial pieces and then saluted the Legion on its birthday with a medley of tunes. First song in the medley paying tribute to the birthday was the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
His other renditions for the various wars were:
• Civil War - “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Dixie”
• World War I - “Park Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag”
• World War II - “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”
• Korean Conflict - “Goodbye Maria, I’m Off to Korea”
• Vietnam Conflict - “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree”
• Desert Storm - “I’m Proud to Be an American”
• Iraq/Afghanistan War on Terror - “Angry American”
Final tribute piece was “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Fennell concluded the recital with “Rejoice in the Lord” by Ron Hamilton. Rev. Matt Fennell said a concluding prayer for the evening.