Legion hosts District Convention

By SARA SYVERSON

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The 2000 Second District American Legion and Legion Auxiliary is holding its 82nd annual convention this weekend at the Holiday Inn in New Ulm.

The 2000 Second District Legionnaires and Auxiliary convention includes 84 Legion posts and 80 Auxiliary units in southern Minnesota. The American Legion Post 132 of New Ulm hosted the convention.

The main purpose of the convention is to give an opportunity for the various committees to give their reports, to elect officers to positions, and also to give awards and presentations to the members.

The convention began Friday morning with a Commanders Golf Outing and past commanders/adjutants (post secretary/ recorder) and Auxiliary Executive board dinners in the evening.

On Saturday the Legionnaires and the Auxiliary held meetings at the Holiday Inn most of the day and later a social hour was held at Turner Hall. A banquet was arranged for the members in the evening.

New Ulm Police Officer Allison Miller was presented a certificate of commendation as the Second District Peace Officer of the Year.

Today a memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. at the New Ulm Cemetery and a parade is scheduled for 1 p.m. The parade route is from 3rd North to 2nd South on Minnesota Street.

Sen. Dennis Frederickson (R-New Ulm) attended the convention and expressed some of his views.

"I think it's very important as our veterans are aging we need to be aware of their needs," said Frederickson, "We need to respond to their needs because they've responded to our nation's needs. They've responded to dangerous situations, they've been separated from their families. At conventions like these they can speak with a more unified voice."

Rep James Clark, (R-New Ulm) also spoke at the convention. He shared how the importance to him of carrying his father's military tags every day.

"He served in World War II in the South Pacific," said Clark, "(Carrying the tags) reminds me of my father and of the tremendous sacrifices he made as a young man serving his country. I just want to stress and thank the veterans today for their service to our country and their continuing service to us."

The Second District Auxiliary President 1999-2000 Grace Gerken said a convention like this is a time for sharing.

"We appreciate the warm hospitality New Ulm has given us and we thank them for that," said Gerken, "They're good people."

Herb Fromm and Randy Wenninger, of the American Legion, New Ulm were co-chairs of the District 2000 District Committee.

"We'd like to thank the community for advertising in the District 2000 committee book," said Fromm.

The New Ulm Chamber of Commerce was also instrumental in coordinating the event, Fromm said.

A traveling wall listing the names of Prisoner of War/Missing in Action from the Vietnam War was displayed in the meeting hall at the Holiday Inn. The wall was designed and constructed by Leo Voss, a Vietnam Veteran of Fulda.

There are 2,556 names of POW/MIA soldiers listed on the wall, according to Voss. He was able to get the names from the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) in Washington, D.C.

"I made it for the boys," said Voss, "I didn't make it for myself."

Voss said he was asked to bring it to the convention. The wall was taken down Saturday evening.