GRAND FORKS – Memorial Day isn’t just about remembering military personnel who have died, but also to acknowledge the unseen scars that tours of duty can leave behind, UND President and and retired Air Force Brigadier Gen. Andrew Armacost said during his speech at the VFW’s Memorial Day Ceremony. As an example, Armacost told the story of UND alumnus Sgt.
Brandt Bennett, who served in Afghanistan. “In his retirement speech, he focused all his attention not on himself, but on his six platoon-mates who had survived the war, but came home only to not survive the mental and behavioral trauma that existed,” Armacost said. “Each of those six took their own lives and so today, Brandt’s example and the recognition he gave to his six comrades is indicative of the attention we pay on Memorial Day.
” Monday's ceremony occurred at the Gregory J. Norman Funeral Chapel at the Norman Funeral Home, adjacent to the Memorial Park South Cemetery in south Grand Forks. It was was hosted by the VFW Post 1874, DAV Chapter 2 and Auxiliaries.
The crowd was large — so large they ran out of programs. An event earlier in the day hosted by American Legion Post 6 at the Memorial Park North Cemetery was canceled due to rainy weather. The master of ceremonies was Robert Beauchamp, with music by Michael Marcotte, who sang renditions of the "Star Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful.
" The event began with a prayer from DAV Chaplain Robert Howard calling for not only the remembrance of t.
