June 2026 Newsletter
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
Read the Highlights or Download the Full PDF Version below.
District Commander Thomas Behrends
Greetings from the Second to None, 2nd District!
I hope everyone had a blessed Memorial Day. There was an unbelievable amount of honor to our fallen displayed that day. This year was really special as servicemembers who were missing in action were identified and brought home to be buried in the country they died protecting. Army Captain Willibald Bianchi was laid to rest in New Ulm. Navy pilot LJG Thomas Ruth was laid to rest in Jackson. Both men were killed in action during WWII and were identified through DNA in 2025. Welcome home and rest in peace.
Twenty years ago, the 1st Brigade Combat Team of Minnesota’s 34th Infantry Division Red Bulls began their combat tour in Iraq. This tour became the longest in the Global War on Terror. We landed in Kuwait in March and April 2006, and moved into Iraq a week or two later. All was reasonably quiet until June when we had our first killed in action. Sergeant Brent W. Koch of Morton MN and 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment, was killed in action 16 June 2006 when a roadside bomb detonated near his cargo vehicle near Ad Dwaniyah, Iraq.
Starting on that date, I will be firing a salute from my 250 th Anniversary Winchester signal
cannon, and playing taps to honor our fallen hero. I plan on doing the honors at high noon each anniversary day of each of our fallen heroes from Minnesota. I have attached the spreadsheet (pages 12-14) from the Heroes Wall that will be in Slayton in August. If your post can fire a volley and play taps on the death dates of our fallen comrades that would be great. Let’s fill the air with the honor of a volley and taps for each and every one who gave their all.
For God & Country,
Tom Behrends
Commander
2nd District American Legion
Department of Minnesota
2nd District Sons of the American Legion Commander
Randy Olson
Welcome to all of you Sons of the American Legion members! June is amongst us! When you take time to plan out your summer events, remember to make sure you send the information in to the 2nd District Newsletter, so that others can attend your events when possible. A great way for your Squadrons to have a great turnout & be successful.
Detachment needs your Squadron Data Reports & updated Officer Forms now that your elections have taken place! It is very important to have the correct information for each Squadron!
I am asking each Squadron to request a contact number & email address from each of your members! Lack of communication is the number one reason why we fail in our Organization from Squadrons to our members, Districts to Squadrons, Detachment to Districts, & National to Detachment.
Congratulations & a big Thank You to everyone of you for your dedication to the S.A.L.! New Membership & Renewals have put 2nd District in the number 1 spot almost every month. This month 2nd District is currently at 108.20%. You are the reason for that! We still are looking for 5 Squadrons to complete their goals of 100%. I know that it is possible!
Our 2027 Membership will begin soon & it would sure be nice to start the year off by changing the process of waiting until the last minute to re-new. Your 2026 Membership expires December 31st, 2026. Please do not wait until the expiration date. If they do not get processed in time, the continuous years on your card returns to 1 year. I have had many upset about that & it could be stopped by renewing as soon as you all can. The new packets usually are sent out to the District around July 1st! Make sure to watch for pick up dates & locations.
Detachment of Minnesota Convention
Friday June 26th & Saturday June 27th, 2026
Crystal VFW #494
5222 Bass Lake Road
Crystal, Mn. 55429
(763)537-9914
Finance Committee starts at 7:00 P.M. Friday night.
General Session starts at 9:00 A.M. Saturday morning. Ends
Best Regards
2nd District S.A.L. Commander
Randy R. Olson
734 Cleveland Ave W, Winnebago, MN 56098
507-525-6532
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