Harkin Store celebrates traditional Fourth

Griebel talks about citizenship, history

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Former distinguished Brown County Commissioner and retired farmer Charles Griebel talked about good citizenship and history before a full-house crowd Sunday afternoon at the Harkin Store.

As a youngster, Griebel rode a ferry operated by his great grandfather, Alois Palmer, from the Harkin Store to New Ulm. Palmer helped found New Ulm when he moved here from Le Sueur a century and a half ago.

A commissioner from 1983-1999, Griebel was born 1 1/2 miles southeast of the historic store. He spoke first about history and how it repeated itself.

Griebel noted that American presidents were assassinated or an attempt to do so was made on them every 20 years between 1840 and 1980. He linked presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy in many ways in his talk:

* Both were elected to Congress and as President 100 years apart.

* Their names contained 7 letters.

* Both were concerned with civil rights and shot in the head on Fridays by southerners. Both were succeeded by southerners named Johnson that were born 100 years apart.

* The assassins of both presidents -- John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald -- were both born 100 years apart and known by 3 names with 15 letters.

* Booth ran from a theater and was caught in a warehouse.

* Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.

Griebel talked about how fortunate we are to to born in America in this time in history.

"Why? I guess we're just lucky," Griebel said. He urged the crowd to show good citizenship by voting and studying current issues.

Griebel recalled a newspaper editorial he read 40 years ago during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

"The piece said we shouldn't be so concerned about the Cuban Missile Crisis as we should about future events in the Middle East, which makes me wonder," Griebel said.

He urged voters to remember that their vote does count and that nobody has more than one vote.

Griebel said doesn't enjoy it when politicians vote strictly along party lines. He called America's political party system the greatest one of its type in the world.

"American government hasn't always been smooth and peaceful," Griebel said. "It's institutions are among men (and women)."

New Ulm Battery cannon shots interrupted Griebel's speech several times.

Griebel was awarded the Dean and Director's Award for Distinguished Contributions to the University of Minnesota Extension Service in 1992. He was credited for leadership and contributions as a county commissioner involved with revitalizing Brown County Extension programs.

The Minnesota Valley Lutheran Brass Band played patriotic music and horse and buggy rides entertained the overflow crowd at the Harkin Store.