The Veteran's Memorial Service is an annual event at the Brown County Fair on Thursday's. It is held at the Main Ring and the grandstands are always filled to capacity with patriotic citizens.

When: Thursday, September 30, 2010
Time: 6:00 P.M. - * Note the time change
Where: Main Ring

Veterans that have questions about their VA health care eligibility can get answers from VA Mobile Health Unit staff. Eligible Veterans can enroll in 30 minutes or less according to this schedule:

• Wednesday and Friday 4:30-8:30 pm
• Thursday and Saturday 2:00-8:00 pm

Please bring a copy of your DD214 (if you have it)

Looking forward to bringing the Mobile Unit to the Brown County Fair! VA staff will be dropping off flyers at various businesses in the area this week and next.

This year (2008) the  POW-MIA Memorial Service began with the “Star Spangled Banner” sung by Brown County Auditor and “Brown County’s Patriotic Ambassador of Song” Doug Green, followed by an opening prayer. An address was given on the Navajo code talkers who served in World War II. Doug Green then returned to the microphone and sang “God Bless the USA” which drew the crowd to its feet as they clapped and sang along.

Lieutenant Richard Klinker, Army Reserve Combat Engineer, was the keynote speaker for the evening.

“I was asked to speak because Colonel Danny Bubp could not be here,” Klinker said.

Klinker said he could not properly fill Bubp’s shoes, but he was honored to be asked to speak. He said he wanted to tell Brown County all of the positive things going on in Iraq that the media has not reported. Klinker said children have returned to school, communities are getting electricity and are able to watch programs from outside of the Middle East.

“Children are learning English and they’re using it to talk to soldiers,” Klinker said. “They usually ask for chocolate, but they also thank us, tell us they love us, and ask us not to leave.”

Klinker said women now have rights and are no longer second rate citizens. They are also being allowed to participate in all levels of government.

“Little girls are allowed to go to school alongside little boys,” Klinker said. “This will be the first generation in which girls’ literacy will rival boys.”

Klinker then thanked all of the veterans gathered for their service and the veterans were given an big round of applause.

Doug Green sang an “Armed Forces Medley” and the evening ended with a single bugle playing “Taps” for those soldiers who have not returned home.