The Forest Lake American Legion hosted its annual Vietnam Veterans Day ceremony on Sunday, March 24. The event was started in 2007 by Diane Finneman, whose brothers’ death by suicide four years after his time in Vietnam was the impetus for celebrating veterans who served in the Vietnam War. Finneman was also pivotal in passing state legislation in 2008 that made March 29 the state’s official Vietnam Veterans Day. This was Finneman’s final year planning the event, passing on the duties to her sister Shannon Monahan.

Forest Lake Area High School Senior Cole Gerrell, the winner of the 2024 scholarship, read his winning essay on the importance of pilots and airplanes in the war. This year’s $500 scholarship was donated in memory of David Guerrette, a long-time Forest Lake American Legion and VFW member. This year’s guest speaker was Col. Wilbur Joseph Latham, Jr., who spoke about his missions in Vietnam as a pilot.

Load comments