Coming together for the vets
BY ALYSSA MEIER
Editor
The Washburn and Wilton American Legion Posts have joined forces, coming together to plan joint Veterans Day events in honor of the Legion’s 100 year anniversary.
The American Legion will turn 100 years old in 2019, so in honor of the organization’s 100th Veterans Day ceremony, two local posts are working as one. Members of the Washburn and Wilton Legion Posts gathered during an organizational meeting last week to decide on more details as the joint event nears.
Along with a separate program at Wilton Public School this November, there will be programs in Wilton and Washburn on Nov. 3, in honor of Veterans Day. The morning program, held at the Wilton Memorial Hall, will include a speech by Don Weible on the history of the American Legion. The North Dakota American Legion Commander Karen Meier and General David Sprynczynatyk will also speak at the event.
In the evening, the public is welcome to attend a second ceremony at the Washburn Memorial Building. There, the North Dakota Army National Guard 188th Army Band will perform, and Meier and Sprynczynatyk are again expected to speak. There will be a keynote speech by Jesse Orgaard, father of specialist Tyler Orgaard who died in Afghanistan in 2012.
After the Washburn program, the Army Band will lead a community dance. During both of the programs, customized frisbee fans and balls are expected to be given out, and local veterans will be recognized.
Event details will be finalized in the coming months, and the public will be invited through mass mailers in the Washburn, Wilton, Regan and Underwood areas.
