Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Want to personally say thank you to a veteran of the Iraq War?

That opportunity will come Friday night when VFW Post 4210 in Forest Lake has an open house at 6 p.m. for veterans of the war who are now home.

The VFW Post at 556 SW 12th St. is inviting the public to stop by and say thanks. At least five members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 34th Infantry Division who are from the Forest Lake area will be the guests of honor.

Members of the Red Bull Division who will be on hand include: Sgt. Nicholas Peterson, Pfc Stephen Major, Sgt. Joshua Brown, Sgt. Nick Reedy and Sgt. Chris Tetrault. All are 2002 graduates of Forest Lake High School.

The deployment to Iraq was the second overseas duty for the five area men who now have just six years of service to their credit. They were also sent to Bosnia in 2003 as peacekeepers.

According to Keith Hegstrom, manager of Post 4210, there will be free snacks, beer, soda and music during the welcome home celebration.

Hegstrom is also extending an invitation to all other members of the 34th Infantry —from Page 1

Division who were part of the Minnesota Army National Guard activation in 2005 to attend Friday’s event as special guests.

For more information, call Hegstrom at 651-464-6827.

The National Guard forces from Minnesota have all returned home after completing the longest deployment of any U.S. military unit during the Iraq War. Their stay in Iraq was extended by 125 days as part of the U.S. summer surge in Iraq.

The 34th Infantry was assigned duty of escorting convoys, securing supply routes and safeguarding logistics bases.

Top of Page