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ST. PAUL, Minn. - Soldiers, veterans and families of the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division commemorated its centennial anniversary Aug. 29, 2017, on Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair with a ceremony and events throughout the day honoring division's distinguished service from the First World War to the present.
Red Bull Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Buddy Winn began the opening ceremony by offering a prayer: "May today's events reflect the best of who we are when freedom is threatened and other efforts fail, and may the next 100 years continue to see generations of Red Bull Soldiers who answer the call to duty and Attack, Attack, Attack! Amen."
After congratulatory remarks from U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton and Minnesota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Rick Nash, the ceremony continued with Maj. Gen. Jon Jensen, 34th Infantry Division commanding general, inviting veterans and currently serving members of the Armed Forces to reaffirm their commitment to service by standing alongside reenlisting 34th Infantry Division soldiers as he administered the enlistment oath to them.
A pair of Army helicopters from the 34th Combat Aviation Brigade flew overhead as more than 100 past, present and future Red Bulls swore an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States.
"A hundred years ago, this division was formed to make the world safe for democracy, as President Woodrow Wilson had laid out as his strategic goal," Jensen continued.
"It would not be the only time, or the last time, that the Red Bulls would answer this call."
The division's history of wartime service was read as the commanding general and command sergeant major decorated the colors, beginning with the World War One Victory Streamer.
A soldier in World War One uniform, portrayed by Minnesota Army National Guard Capt. Chris Belland, presented the streamer to the command team in homage to the first generation of Red Bulls who trained at Camp Cody, N.M., before deploying to France in 1918.
"In World War Two, our Red Bulls mobilized, trained, deployed, fought and died to rid the world of fascism, Nazism and imperialism," Jensen said. "Today, we honor them as well as our Red Bulls who've served in Iraq, Afghanistan and across the world against hatred and tyranny."
Maj. Gen. Richard Nash, Minnesota's Adjutant General and a former commanding general of the 34th Infantry Division, in his remarks acknowledged a World War Two veteran of the 34th ID in attendance.
Former Tech. Sgt. Don Halverson, age 95, sprang to his feet and waved to the standing room only crowd on behalf of the Greatest Generation.
The ceremony concluded with the Red Bull Band performing the National Anthem as the U.S., Minnesota and POW/MIA flags were raised above the fairgrounds. The band performed March of the Red Bull Legions during performances throughout the day.
Fairgoers on Military Appreciation Day continued to celebrate the Red Bulls Centennial. A record-setting crowd gathered and cheered along the route as the Minnesota State Fair's daily parade was led by a 34th Infantry Division contingent and featured military reenactors, veteran organizations, marching bands and a second flyover by pilots flying historical aircraft from World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
Soldiers of the 34th Infantry Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion were notified earlier in August 2017 of a planned overseas deployment to begin in fall 2018. The planned deployment will begin approximately 100 years to the day after the original 34th Division first deployed overseas to France in the final months of the First World War.
| Date Taken: | 08.29.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.12.2018 17:06 |
| Story ID: | 247327 |
| Location: | SAINT PAUL, MN, US |
| Hometown: | CAMP DODGE, IA, US |
| Hometown: | CAMP RIPLEY, MN, US |
| Hometown: | JOHNSTON, IA, US |
| Hometown: | MINNEAPOLIS, MN, US |
| Hometown: | ROSEMOUNT, MN, US |
| Hometown: | ST. PAUL, MN, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 'Red Bulls' mark 100th Anniversary, by MAJ Scott Ingalsbe, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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