Speaking of Sports

By John Fragodt, Sports Reporter

One of my favorite events to take pictures at is the Veterans’ Day community program.  I took pictures at Benson High School’s program for many years and one of my favorite coaches at BHS was Don Brehmer, a longtime National Guard leader and VFW Commander from the area.

Brehmer coached my daughter, Abby, for many years in tennis.  I’ll never forget in 2009, the girls tennis team at Benson qualified to state, but Don was in Kuwait serving his country with other members of the National Guard.  He had thought about retiring from the National Guard a year earlier, but when he found out his unit might be sent overseas, he stayed on so he could join his unit.

Don went overseas partway through the girls tennis season and I remember my wife sent a manila folder to him every week which contained the Monitor-News paper along with some goodies

When Benson beat Morris Area late in the season for Don’s 100th coaching win, the team took a picture and sent it to him in Kuwait.  Eventually, the girls tennis team earned a state berth and Jonas Grossman coached for him at the state tourney.

During the state tourney, Brehmer surprised everyone with an impromptu visit and it still send chills up and down my spine when I think of the emotional moment when Don showed up at the Read-Sweatt Tennis Center to surprise his team.

MAHS Superintendent Chip Rankin is another one of those guys who not only serves the community, school and student-athletes, but also serves the entire state and country as a National Guard officer.

Rankin is also passionate about veterans and making sure to recognize and honor those that have served our country.  I thoroughly enjoy his comments during Veterans’ Day, just as I did with Brehmer every year, or the talk from this year’s MAHS guest speaker, Tyler Smith, who has served in the Navy from 1999-2021 and said he’d do it all over again, if needed.

Yes, looking around and seeing all the flags, red-white-and-blue, hands on hearts and veterans in uniform, I felt very proud to be an American.  And, where else can you go and hear the National Anthem sung, the Pledge of Allegiance said and all the armed forces songs being sung by one of the best high school choirs I’ve heard?

BHS always did a great job with the Veterans’ Day program, but the Minnewaska Area Schools’ program is even better.  I love walking into the gym and seeing all the young students dressed up in red, white and blue.  I love seeing the veterans with their uniforms on, or just wearing a hat, shirt, or pin that signifies which branch or war they were a part of.  I love seeing the older students all dressed up and ready to perform with the band and/or choir.

And, one of the things I always remember Don Brehmer saying was if you do one thing on Veterans’ Day, it would be to thank at least one veteran for their service to our country.  I always make it a point to shake every veterans’ hand I see and look them directly in the eye and thank them for their service.

That’s the least I can do, because I know I sure as heck could never have served our country overseas.  It’s just not in my makeup.  And so, I am extremely thankful to all the veterans who have served our country over the years and worked to make sure America has the freedoms it has today.

Yes, MAHS and the Pope County community, you do veterans proud.  There isn’t a segment of our country that has been more overlooked and taken for granted, and there isn’t a segment that I appreciate more.

Thank you Veterans!