MSU PRESIDENT'S COLUMN FOR TRAILL COUNTY TRIBUNE
November 3, 2018
Veterans Day is the perfect time to remember a loved one at the Military Honor Garden
When Veterans Day was first commemorated on November 11, 1919, it was known as Armistice Day. Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11 each year as a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
November 11 is fast-approaching and thoughts of Mayville State University’s Military Honor Garden come to mind. The Military Honor Garden at Mayville State pays tribute not only to those who died during their service to their country, but also to those veterans who came home to their loved ones. The Alumni Association has made a commitment to host a ceremony of remembrance at the Military Honor Garden each year during homecoming. The program includes the reading of the names of all who have been honored in the garden by their loved ones.
The Military Honor Garden features a life-sized bronze eagle in flight sculpture, flags, night lighting, and gardens. All five branches of the military are represented on the granite centerpiece on which the eagle sculpture stands. This beautiful and meaningful project is a tribute to Mayville State employees, students, and friends, and community men and women for their patriotic service in America’s Armed Forces. The intent is to honor anyone who has served in the military. Those honored definitely can be, but do not have to be, Mayville State alumni.
Martin Johnson, 1966 Mayville State graduate and USMC Corporal, and Lieutenant General Emil “Buck” Bedard (Retired, USMC), 1965 Mayville State graduate, are heading up the project. These men have worked hard to ensure that the Military Honor Garden is an extra-special and meaningful tribute to those who bravely served, and continue to serve, to uphold our country’s liberty and freedom. We are grateful to Marty and Buck for taking charge of this project, and to the many people who have given their financial support to make it happen.
Many people have made gifts of $500 or more to the project so that they can have the name(s) of their loved ones engraved on granite plaques that are incorporated into the memorial walk. In addition, the late Valorie Brown, Cavalier, N.D., widow of David G. Brown, a 1971 graduate of Mayville State, donated the amazing bronze statue depicting a life-sized bald eagle in flight in memory of her husband. Two beautifully engraved granite benches flank the eagle statue. One was donated by Dixie and Larry McGillis in honor of Dixie’s dad, Edwin, and his six brothers, all who served in World War II, and all who came home to Edmore, N.D. The second bench honors and remembers all American military recognized as KIA, POW, and MIA. The bench was provided by friends and teammates of Melville “Buzz” Lurth, Jr., who graduated from Mayville State in 1968 and was killed in Vietnam in 1969. Two large flower pots, donated by the family of Phyllis Enger and the May-Port EDC beautification grant program, were added to the garden last year.
In 2016, the MSU Foundation launched Phase II of the Military Honor Garden project, which is to establish scholarships for veterans. Buck Bedard and Martin Johnson kicked off the drive to fund an endowed scholarship for veterans or active duty military members who enroll at Mayville State. The goal of this project is to fully endow the fund (minimum of $15,000) by the fall of 2019 so that scholarships can be provided annually to deserving veterans. We’re just $1,000 short of that goal!
Will you help the MSU Foundation attain the endowed scholarship goal? A gift of $500 or more to the Military Honor Garden will provide an engraved plaque to honor a specific veteran or all veterans. (Note: Each plaque costs $200, which then provides $300 more for the veterans scholarship fund. A contribution of any amount can be made directly to the MSU Veterans Scholarship fund, helping to fully endow the scholarship for the future benefit of veteran students who attend MSU.
If you’d like to sponsor a granite plaque in honor of a loved one or make an outright contribution to the MSU Veterans Scholarship, please contact Stacy Buchl at stacy.buchl@mayvillestate.edu or 701-788-4864 to learn more. You can also see more information and make your gift online at www.mayvillestate.edu/militaryhonorgarden.
I encourage you to observe Veterans Day on November 11 and to consider a gift to the Military Honor Garden project as a tribute to a loved one who is a veteran. And please do stop by the Military Honor Garden at Mayville State to honor our heroes, on Veterans Day or any day.
Go to www.mayvillestate.edu to find out more about opportunities available at Mayville State University.