The Rochester Post Bulletin covers a touching moment in one of this morning's Veterans Day ceremonies in Veterans honored for 'humble service:
Wearing full military dress, 87-year-old Helen Donelan of Rochester rose from a Veterans' Day gathering Sunday and walked towards Rep. Tim Walz on stage.
Just one of many gestures to honor veterans during an event at New Life Worship Center in Rochester, Walz handed Donelan a medal recognizing her service on the island of Saipan during World War II.
"I didn't do anything unusual," said Donelan, a former first lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps, as she spoke to the crowd. "I was just there. That's all."
On a day when Gov. Tim Pawlenty also came to Rochester, Donelan's comments echoed "the spirit of humble service" Pawlenty mentioned moments earlier. . . .
Later the story mentions a younger veteran:
Feeling young Sunday was 26-year-old Jon Larimer of Rochester, an Iraq war veteran who noticed most people at the event fought in wars decades before he had.
Being at the event made Larimer feel connected to his grandpa, who served in World War II.
"To be considered in the same category as him (a veteran) is really interesting," he said.
Could this be the brother of Chad Larimer, a Walz staffer mentioned in this morning's story in the Winona Daily News about an elderly veterans who finally got his claims settled? Chad had spoken of his brother with pride after the Iraq War town hall meeting in Winona a couple of weeks ago, and of his family's tradition of service.
Thanks to all vets today.
Update: The AP picks up on the story, and WCCO runs with it.
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