Jim Dalziel, Princeton, is a flight mechanic whose trips often mean not wandering more than 50 feet away from his plane for 65 hours straight.

His quarters on these trips are on two seats on the back of a Boeing 767 that he is responsible for keeping maintained and fueled. He stores cold weather and warm weather gear in compartments around the plane so he is prepared for every kind of destination.

Read more: Ex-marine from Princeton sees history in far-off places

Jenny Wunderlich knows her deployment to Iraq, four years after spending a year in Kosovo, will be far from a piece of cake.

And while she admitted to being nervous last Friday before leaving for training in Fort Lewis, Wash., she professed to be "more excited than nervous” about her second tour of duty in a foreign land as a member of the Minnesota National Guard. See more in Luther Dorr's Mille Lacs County Times feature story.

After hearing how World War II soldiers returned home to a "heroes” welcome, and Vietnam veterans were shamed and humiliated, Isanti County Commissioner Susan Morris felt something needed to be done.

Morris realized action was needed to ensure local veterans have a smooth transition back into society after listening to a speaker in September of 2007 at a public health conference.

Read more: Isanti County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Task Force organizing

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - In contemporary times it was the Ur archeological site in Tell el-Mukayyar, Iraq that brought together Soldiers of Task Force 34.

Princeton resident U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Gwen Zimmerman explored a royal tomb in Ur, Iraq, when a Unit Ministry Team from Task Force 34, the Combat Aviation Brigade stationed at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, took a group of their Soldiers to the Ur archeological site located just outside of a coalition Forward Operating Base in Tallil in southern Iraq, Jan. 25. The highlights of this religious and cultural training event included climbing the Ziggurat of Ur, stepping through ancient temple archways, entering royal tombs and walking through Abraham's reconstructed home. Zimmerman is a member of the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade Headquarters.

Read more: Army chaplains lead archaeology tour in Land of Abraham

Building a grassroots effort of support for military families during all stages of deployment, one Farmington pastor is leading what she hopes will be a transformational first step in building sustainable relationships.

Rev. Deb Stehlin from Light of the World Lutheran Church led the well-attended town hall meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27, at Farmington Lutheran Church off Akin Road.

Read more: Farmington churches to form core teams, adopt military families

Hoover Elementary School's Coins for Compassion project exceeded its goal. Every year the student council at the Coon Rapids elementary school has a two-week coin collection for a good cause prior to the winter break.

This year's beneficiary was the Blue Star Moms, an organization of mothers who have men and women in the military currently serving overseas.

Read more: Coon Rapids elementary students collect coins for troops

When Lee Burtman saw Ken Krueger openly break down and cry at a patriotic program at church, she wondered what lay beneath his grief. "I thought what memories he must have,” Burtman said.

She approached him and after hearing his harrowing stories about serving in Patton's Third Army, time after time escaping death, she asked if he would be interested in collaborating on a book. The result is "Fighting for Delphine: A Soldier's True Story of Triumph and Tears,” a 160-page tome recalling the trials of Krueger's young life in the Army during World War II.

Read more: WWII veteran's story portrays action, romance

Leo Loscheider remembers exactly where he was and what he was doing when Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941.

See more in Matt Perkins' Morrison County Record story.

Loscheider of Little Falls is set to receive a bronze star medal Thursday, 62 years after earning it through his service in the U.S. Army during World War II. Loscheider will be presented the medal by Major Gen. Larry Shellito at a ceremony scheduled for 2:30 p.m. at the Morrison County Government Center in Little Falls.

(Morrison County Record photo)

Throughout history, yellow ribbons have been the enduring symbol of hope and well wishes for the safe return of loved ones and military troops who are unable to come home during war.

This week, the city of Farmington was given the honor of being named the first Yellow Ribbon City in  Minnesota.

Read more: Farmington named first Yellow Ribbon City in state

On the morning of Nov. 15, 1944, a B-17G bomber crashed over the Austrian Alps. The aircraft and crew of 10 American airmen were returning to Lucera, Italy, from a successful bombing mission of a Nazi oil refinery near Linz, Austria.

While flying at 30,000 feet at 10:42 a.m. the bomber's radio operator Staff Sgt. Robert Haglund reported having engine problems. See more in ABC Newspapers story.

From left, Dan and Linda Boedigheimer, Tracy Kinn, Sheryl and Pat Boedigheimer at the grave site of Staff Sgt. Robert Haglund in St. Avold, France. (Photo submitted)

 

"The Moving Wall," the half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Washington, D.C., recently made its way to the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley.

"The Wall" travels throughout America for most of the year as a way to honor the 58,000 men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War. Not just those who gave their lives, but those who remain missing as well.

Read more: Veterans Day - 'The Wall' is a moving experience

With the displaying of the colors, patriotic music and emotional orations, Forest Lake high schoolers marked Veterans Day during the school's fifth annual ceremony Tuesday morning.

See more in Clint Riese's Forest Lake Times story.

Students soaked in the wise words of U.S. Army Col. Jim Noll (retired) of Forest Lake on Tuesday at Forest Lake High School's annual salute to Veterans Day. The program included student-produced speeches and the musical talents of the high school bands and choirs. Noll, a retired teacher in ISD 831, served his country during the Vietnam War and also was activated to serve in the first Gulf War. He was the featured speaker for the morning program

(Photo By Clint Riese)