100 years later, Winger, Minnesota, honors World War I veterans

WINGER, Minn. — World War I was an international tragedy, but the town of Winger has found a new way to honor those who died in WWI battles more than a century ago.

Seven men from the Winger area died in World War I, and a memorial was made in their honor. On Saturday, June 14, the community will hold its second annual Flag Day celebration, at which the memory of its WWI veterans, specifically Nels T. Wold, will be honored. There will be events for adults and children all day, as well as a proper American flag retirement and disposal.

“Winger has always had a great personality,” said Dean Henney, vice commander of American Legion Post 200. “In a way, (this event) brings life back into (old community celebrations) and showcases the town in the best months of the year.”

Since the dedication of the memorial 100 years ago, the American Legion Post wanted to do something special. Last year, Legion members started an annual Flag Day celebration to hold for the community so they could be together and learn about, and have the opportunity to properly dispose of their old, tattered and frayed American flags.

Winger is a town of approximately 174 residents in eastern Polk County, Minnesota.

The event Saturday at the Winger Community Center marks exactly 100 years since the memorial to Wold and WWI soldiers in Winger was dedicated, with 5,000 people in attendance. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m., followed by a dance from 7 to 10 p.m.

Seven men from Winger fought and gave their lives in WWI, the most notable being Wold, who helped the advancement of his company to help end the war.

On Sept. 26, 1918, the largest and final American battle of WWI that forced the Germans out of France began and took the lives of two Winger veterans, Wold and Selmer Ekre.

Known as the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, the battle took place in the Meuse-Argonne region of France. In this battle, Wold showed great acts of bravery – and on his first day, too.

On Sept. 26, 1918, Wold earned the Medal of Honor. He personally saved 11 hostages, saved a fellow comrade from a German soldier and took out four German machine gun nests — which were very well hidden, had the range to kill people at long distances and usually had four to six people in them. Unfortunately, the fifth German machine gun nest saw Wold coming and killed him, but Wold’s company continued his work and destroyed that one as well.

Henney said one woman who knew Wold said, “Last time I saw Nels Wold, he told me he was going to bring the kaiser’s head back on a silver platter.”

According to online information and documents in the possession of Henney, Wold’s sacrifice helped his company advance in a crucial part of WWI.

There is a display dedicated to Wold in Winger Hall that people can see on Saturday at the Flag Day celebration.

It is also important to the American Legion Post 200 that events are done to bring together the community, create great memories for children and appeal to younger veterans who may join. There is a lack of veterans under the age of 60, according to Henney.

Serving the purpose of the community, Post 200 planned several activities for families of all sizes and community members alike. There will be bicycle drawings throughout the day and activities for children, lots of food, a car show, a silent auction, an old-style country music dance and more for the whole community, and neighboring communities.

American Legion Post 200 also is looking to help the community in other ways. There are women veterans who no longer have have a women’s Legion auxiliary so, according to Henney, the men are trying to help reestablish the women’s post. The women’s Legion post usually does things for children and helps get them involved in patriotic activities.

Henney and the American Legion encourage everyone to come to the event, since, as Henney said, “an understanding of history makes life so much richer.”