Gackle Area Units Honor Veterans and Members
The American Legion Posts and Auxiliary Units of Gackle, Streeter and Fredonia and the American Legion Post of Kulm co-hosted the 106th American Legion Birthday Party / Vietnam War Veterans Day event at the Gackle Legion Hall on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Approximately 100 people attended. A light meal was served, followed by a program.
Brenda Mayer (left), recipient of a 50-year membership award and Elaine Ackerman, President Unit 250 Gackle.
Gackle Legion Post #250 Commander Jon Metz welcomed everyone to the event and led the attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance. Randy Entzminger, Gackle Legion member and guest speaker, shared an informative presentation titled “The History of the Gackle American Legion Memorial Hall.” His discourse included names and pictures of the founding members of the Gackle Legion and Auxiliary, and pictures of the building progress during construction of the Legion Hall.
The Saturday event was highlighted by the presentation of North Dakota “Welcome Home” coins to sixteen veterans who served between 1959 and 1975. The coin has a circle of 238 dots representing the known ND lives lost during the Vietnam War. 10 panels of the Vietnam Wall represent the remaining unrecovered ND MIA. The Welcome Home presentations were made by Veterans Service Officers, Jim Hilzendeger (Logan County) and Dave Bratton (Stutsman County). The audience gave a standing ovation to thank these veterans and provide the recognition they did not receive when they first came home.
Another highlight of the event was the presentation of Milestone Service Awards to Post and Unit members including a Legion 60-year and 70-year award and two Auxiliary 60-year awards.
American Legion – Gackle
- 50 Years: Luxton J. Brooks, Leslie Wirkkunen, John Henke, Michelle Pich, Rod Gilmore
- 60 Years: Wilbert Denning
- 70 Years: Darrell Ova
American Legion Auxiliary – Gackle
- 35 Years: Rachael Smaage
- 45 Years: Rebekah Wilke
- 50 Years: Brenda Mayer
- 55 Years: Doreen Mickelson
- 60 Years: Nedina Denning
American Legion Auxiliary – Fredonia
- 60 Years: Isabel Weber
Marella Presler Sebring read the elements of the “Missing Man Table” and Randy Entzminger offered prayers. Sharon Schlittenhard, pianist, provided accompaniment to the group songs “Star Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America” and “Happy Birthday.”
Thank you to all who attended!
Article and photos submitted by: Elaine Ackerman, President Unit 250 Gackle
Front (l-r): Vietnam Veterans Rodney Zaun, Kulm; Dennis Mueller, Fredonia; James Anderson, Streeter; Elmer Schlecht, Fredonia; Clifford Klundt, Gackle; Mark Dockter, Streeter and Jim Hilzendeger, Logan County Veterans Service Officer of Napoleon.
Back (l-r): Rodney Brosz, Kulm; Verlye Bjur, Kulm; Harry Krause, Gackle; Russell Gieszler, Gackle; Tim Dewald, Gackle; Loren Schroeder, Gackle; Wendel Janke, Gackle; Jay Posselt, Gackle; Dale Strobel, Kulm; Doug Wittmier, Streeter and David Bratton, Stutsman County Veterans Service Officer of Jamestown.
Mayer-Morlock Unit #250 held their annual kuchen baking fundraiser during the first week of July. Gackle unit members, with help from other volunteers, baked and sold 180 kuchen.
This was quite a project! Thirty-nine quarts of cream, fifteen quarts plus six dozen eggs, fifty-five pounds of sugar and 13 pounds of flour were used to cook the kuchen custard. Flavors of kuchen offered were peach, blueberry, prune, strawberry, rhubarb and strawberry-rhubarb. The Gackle kuchen fundraiser was an outstanding success.
Each year the city of Gackle celebrates the 4th of July with numerous activities. Mayer-Morlock Unit #250 participated in the 2024 Gackle celebration via a bake sale, lunch and parade entry. Not only Auxiliary members, but also members of the Gackle community donated baked goods to be sold. Approximately 200 people purchased lunch consisting of sloppy joes, chips, bars and beverages. Gackle Unit Secretary and District 4 President, Jane Schoonover, drove the Auxiliary entry in the parade while Auxiliary member Ann Haut threw candy to the crowd. The celebration was an excellent way for the community to bring people together to honor our country. The Auxiliary was proud to be part of the activities.
(2024)