'Them farm boys can fight'
Memorial Day remembrance in Garrison honors North Dakota’s warrior legacy
By Iain Woessner
It was a sun-soaked day in Garrison this Memorial Day, and local veterans and their loved ones, young and old, came to honor those who sacrificed their lives in service of their country at a ceremony at the Garrison Auditorium.
Lieutenant Colonel Jerome Moszer was the guest speaker, and regaled the audience with tales of heroism and bravery, highlighting in particular the achievements and sacrifices of Garrison-born and North Dakota soldiers.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say, the real reason we’re here today is for the folks who never made it home,” Moszer said. “One thing that strikes me about Garrison if when you walk into this auditorium, it doesn’t matter if you’re going to the barber shop … it doesn’t matter if you’re going to have a cold beer, those bronze plaques on those bricks out there reminds us every day of the sacrifices our military personnel made for us.”
Moszer spoke passionately to the pride he feels as a North Dakotan, and gave the audience a history lesson, weaving back and forth in time to highlight achievements made by sons of the Legendary State.
“Over in Iraq, we were known as the git-er-done boys,” Moszer said. “If you wanted anything done, you called the North Dakota guys.”
