At the beginning of October, Veteran Bruce Burton from Lincoln, NE, and his daughter, Michel participated in the Lone eagle Honor Flight to Washington, DC. The Honor Flight gives veterans an opportunity to experience the Nation's Capitol in a day at no cost to them. Their guardian pays for their portion of the trip. Bruce wrote the following about the special day. Thank you, Bruce!
    Our daughter, Michel & I had a great time in DC and Baltimore flying with the Lone Eagle Honor Flight for veterans October 6-8. We were greeted by a "town crier" at the Baltimore airport. He led us through part of the airport announcing, "Hear ye, hear ye, veterans from the Vietnam War are present." It was surreal getting the standing ovations and people applauding. Some were saying, "Welcome home." A later side note, at a Nebraska football game with 89,000 people present, all Veterans were asked to stand and be recognized. This also happened at a Nebraska volleyball match with 9,000 people applauding.
    In DC, we saw the very amazing Iwo Jima Marine Memorial. The flag at the memorial is never flown half mast. On the monument are the following words, "Honor, Courage and Commitment; Here We Remember Them All." Over the many years of addressing people during Memorial Day or Veterans Day, I probably refer to Iwo and one of the flag raisers, Ira Hayes the most.
    The Air Force Memorial was impressive with the impression of three jets leaving their entail marks. When the Pentagon, which is near there, was ravaged, the plane that did it flew so low over a five story Sheraton Hotel that it knocked all the antennas off the roof.
    Michel really enjoyed the Navy Memorial probably because of her husband, Mike, who had a 21 year career with the Navy. He was a Chief Petty Officer and was involved with Special Warfare units. One picture taken was of the United States flag with dog tags used for the White lines in the flag. She had her picture taken with the Lone Sailor.
    The WWII Memorial is always breathtaking. On the trip, we had a 101 year old WW2 vet & 4 vets from the Korean War. I didn't put my feet in the water this time as I am getting too old and stiff to recover after sitting down with my feet in the water.
    I spent a lot of time at the Korean Memorial as a lot of the statutes were of Radio Operators which was my first MOS (Military Occupation Specialty). I ended up with four MOS's - radio operator, radio-teletype operator, company clerk and personnel specialist during my two years of drafted service. Oftentimes, combatants seek out the officers, the machine gunner and radio operators.
    We chatted with several people at the Viet Nam Memorial including a professional soccer player and his wife from Argentina. This is probably my favorite monument. We found the names of Bill Mohrhauser of Danbury who I once boxed in a Danbury Catholic boxing tournament and a friend of us from Mapleton, Chuck Johnson on the wall.
    The next to last stop was The Changing of the Guard at the Arlington National Cemetery. We witnessed four soldiers involved in playing Taps and changing three wreaths. As we watched, at one point, I was in the direct path of the marching E6 sergeant who was in command of the ceremony. They also involved twelve different students in the process. You could literally hear a pin drop. One of the old wreaths was placed at the grave of Audi Murphy. We weren't given much time to visit other parts of the cemetery. Because of our previous other visits to the cemetery, my wife, Carol and I have decided to be buried in the National Veterans Cemetery in Omaha.
    The final stop was at the Military Women's Memorial. This was more of a BBQ than a tour. This is the site of a typical military mail call.
    The guardians (Michel and others) were asked to put something together like a letter from home. I received a scrapbook from Michel and our granddaughter Meghan with short notes from family members, friends and also from the Legion Commanders at DeWitt and Lincoln, American Legion Riders from Beatrice and 14 from a senior group in DeWitt. Most of these contributors are friends on Facebook, and they each responded on personal messenger.

    The election was held last week, and the question heard throughout the week - have you heard any results yet? Well, it's taken a week, but we do have results.
    Unofficially, Bob Welte has been chosen as the next mayor, getting 45 of the 67 votes cast for mayor. He replaces Brock Boyle who chose not to run again. For the council, Dale Drees received 54 votes while Carol Weber received 52 out of the 127 votes cast. They replace Kathy Scholl and Kendra Dougherty who chose not to run again.

    This year the MVAO School Board Election was pretty unexciting with only one candidate in the three districts needing candidates.
    Incombents Dale Wimmer and Jana Hamann ran unopposed for their seats, and both were re-elected. In District 3, Wimmer received 376 votes with 11 write-in votes cast. In District 5, Jana Hamann kept her seat with 422 votes. Three write-ins were cast.
    In District 1, Rob Paulsen submitted paperwork to run for the seat. Karen Kennedy, who had held the seat for several years, chose not to run again. Paulsen received 404 votes. Three write-in votes were cast.

    Yeehaw! St. Mary's Danbury's youth group will be holding a rootin' tootin' DBS on Saturday, November 15th. All Christians from kindergarten through sixth grade are welcome to learn about outlaws of the Bible. The round-up will begin at 11:00 (we will have vittles at noon) at Danbury Catholic School and end at around 4:30. All cowboys and cowgirls who are able will be singing a DBS song during the 5:00 Mass in Danbury.
    How much will it cost to join the jamboree? Nothing, thanks to generous donations at our bake sale at Corn Days.
    To sign up your young cowboys and cowgirls, please contact Lynn at 712-840-0327 or buth@danbury-ia.com, Emily at 712-840-6277, or Gabby at 712-898-8651. They are welcome to wear cowboy gear if they want - cowboy hats will be furnished!

    The Danbury Fire Department would like to keep you out of the kitchen on Sunday morning, November 16th. Please join them at the Danbury Fire Station for pancakes, sausages, and scrambled eggs, all you care to eat for a free will donation. The meal will be served from 8:00 until 11:00 a.m.
    Please consider joining the firefighters for breakfast.

    The MVAO middle school fall concert will be on Monday, November 17th at 7:00 pm in the Anthon Center gym. Groups performing will be the 6th grade choir, 6th grade band, 7th/8th concert choir and the 7th/8th concert band.
    There will be no admission charged. Please join them.

    The MVAOCOU Student Council held their annual Veterans Day program on Tuesday. Veterans from the school district were invited to be acknowledged during the program.
    Photo submitted by MVAOCOU Yearbook staff. Thank you!

    The cold weather has found us. Sigh. While bundling up on Sunday, consider visiting the Battle Creek Fire Station where the Maple Huskies will hold their annual luncheon from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Chili, potato soup, and cinnamon rolls will be served for a free will donation.
    Along with the meal, Christmas cookie and goodie trays will be available to purchase.
    Proceeds will be used to improve the Ida County Fairgrounds

    The staff at First Security Bank is grateful for their customers and for the communities they serve. To show their appreciation, they are holding their open house next Wednesday and Thursday, November 20th and 21st at both the Danbury and Mapleton locations.
    Please stop in, enjoy some refreshments, and register for a $100 gift card either for either Colbert's Market in Danbury or Cenex in Mapleton.