As we noted last night, the Rochester Post Bulletin's story, Veterans honored for 'humble service' has been picked up by the Associated Press.
The story was published under this headline,Walz and Pawlenty pay tribute to generations of military service, in the Star Tribune. WCCO's most recent version ran under Pawlenty, Walz honor veterans of all ages during Rochester event. The AP Wire at the Forum chain of outstate newspapers reads Pawlenty, Walz honor veterans of all ages during Rochester event.
Here's the AP version:
Eighty-seven-year-old Helen Donelan wore full military dress Sunday as she went on stage to receive a medal from U.S. Rep. Tim Walz as part of a Veterans' Day gathering at New Life Worship Center.
Walz, himself a National Guard veteran, honored Donelan for her service on the island of Saipan during World War II.
"I didn't do anything unusual," Donelan, a former first lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps, told the crowd of about 700. "I was just there. That's all."
Her comments were an example of "the spirit of humble service" that Gov. Tim Pawlenty spoke about moments earlier as he thanked Minnesota's war veterans.
"We are so very, very grateful to you and your families," Pawlenty said.
The event was "tremendous - the best ever," said Freeland Terpenning, 84, of Rochester, also a World War II veteran.
Jon Larimer of Rochester said he felt young on Sunday. The 26-year-old Iraq war veteran noticed most people at the event fought in wars decades before him.
But he said the event made him 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.
But over at GOP 4-pak member Brian Davis's blog, there's a whole different story:
Over one-thousand gathered today at the New Life Worship Center in Rochester to honor our veterans who have defended and sacrificed for the liberty and security of our nation. Governor Pawlenty was introduced by State Senator Dave Senjem and gave a moving speech. The program was over an hour and was a fitting tribute for our veterans.
Davis posts a picture of himself with Pawlenty and a shot of the crowd from the rear. U.S. Representative and veteran Walz is missing from the Planet Brian version of the event, despite all other news accounts. The Davis account of the photo op with Pawlenty was posted at 10:54* yesterday morning, barely leaving time for the free breakfast served after before the ceremony to cool. Apparently for Davis, Veterans Day is about the Republicans who show up.
We are sad to report that this is not the first time Davis edits out a rival in his shaping of an online persona. On his official web site's "Brian Davis in the News" page, mainstream press coverage stops with a mid-October Owatonna People's Press article. We're curious why he left out Friday's Mankato Free Press's article about GOP candidate fundraising, Candidates raising funds to battle Walz. Could it be this lovely set of pie charts?
It certainly does diminish Davis's claims to be the fundraising frontrunner--and the article itself looks to the importance of appealing to the GOP base in order to secure their endorsement in March. Day and Demmer look to be spending their money to do just that; Davis, on the other hand, is driving miles and miles from Rochester--with gas at over $3 per gallon--to attend a DFL U.S. Senate candidate debate (one that followed a DFL state central committee meeting, no less).
We'll let DJ over at I Don't Hate America ponder Davis's attendance at Saturday's debate in Savage--and the meaning of Davis' s request for an interview from the pesky bloggers at IDHA.
Aren't there any conservative bloggers in the state who'll talk to this guy?
*Update: The time stamp has got to be wrong--since the ceremony began at 10:30, it's unlikely that the post was up at 10:54. Whatever time zone Davis has picked for his blogger account, it's not central time.
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