Red Wing Seniors Greatest Generation Story Boards

The best selling book “The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw and the Greatest Generation exhibit at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul were the inspiration for Jerry Borgen to begin working on ways to thank our area veterans for a job well done. It occurred to Borgen, who has served on the RWSC board, that Red Wing has many men and women who made a difference in the outcome of World War II. He was correct. Some of their stories are funny, some are tragic, and some are amazing heroic stories. All of the veterans were in Harms Way and were heroes because they preserved our freedom, although none of them claim to be heroes. They say the one's that did not come back were the heroes.

The Greatest Generation Red Wing Room is located in the south wing of the Senior Center. On display are artifacts, uniforms, photos, flags, books, videos, DVD's, awards, plaques, and even model airplanes from WWII. The late Royce Benson donated his model airplanes to fill the ceiling of the room with P-38's, B-17's, B-29's and C-47's. Bill Naseth attached them to the ceiling. The late Hal Carlson painted the uniformed faces of the Army, Navy, Air Corps, and Marines that graces the south wall. Janice Borgen donated the burial flag of her late husband Tom Borgen as a beautiful backdrop for the room. The Today magazine provided stories of veterans. Bud Stolpa was the main man in providing and arranging the many things in the room. Many of the uniforms, books and artifacts are his. You can visit the room at the Senior Center and a tour can be arranged by checking with one of the Center's staff.

Jerry Borgen created the 2' x 3' foam core boards with the names, pictures, and stories of the Red Wing area men and women that fought, bled, and some who died to preserve our freedom. There are about 21 boards completed now and more on the way. If you were there, we want your story. Contact Borgen by sending an email or calling the Senior Center at 651.267.3599. The lightweight boards are portable so they have been on view in downtown locations, flag ceremonies and at schools for classroom study. Currently the boards are on view at Corner Drug in downtown Red Wing until about July 4th. Most recently they have been made available on the Senior Center website - www.redwingareaseniors.org .

The room is a small thank you and a tribute to veterans everywhere. We owe them so much. Now in their mid 80's and up, they are dying at a rate of 1200 per day. The thanks should come now. To continue to expand the project, we need more artifacts, photos, medals, citations, etc. Please dig through your attic or basement and bring your items to the Senior Center for inclusion in the Greatest Generation Red Wing Room. If you don't wish to donate the items, consider loaning them to the Center for a period of time. They will be returned to you whenever you choose.