Hero: Jammie Colwell

Spc. Jammie Colwell shakes President Bill Clinton’s hand.

Age: 38

He was working for President Bill Clinton and has been in Iraq four times.

He was at the Pentagon and was leaving about an hour before the plane crash happened on 9/11.

His sister was in Philly about a half a mile away from there when it happened. Her name is Ericka Puruka.

The parents are Pam and Kenny Puruka.

Stories: He was best friends, more like brothers with my son, Danny Walton. They both delivered papers at the Albert Lea Tribune. I half raised him along with his sister when Jammie was about 5.

When he lived in Minnesota he lived on Jefferson Street for many years. He also went to Albert Lea Schools.

Danny Walton: “We did papers together, ate together, we did his route and mine and you could say we ‘mastered it.’ We went to the Twins game together when we won the contest, and that was pretty fun. I ended up stealing his bike and learned how to ride it. Basically we played and did everything together, and we were more like brothers than anything because we fought like it and spent time like it. He’s a very nice man, and I’m happy to say I know him so well.”

Lois Williams

Hero: The Harmdierks

The Harmdierks family

After a 50-year wait, I was joyfully reunited with my Albert Lea area birth family! We had both been searching for about 10 years with limited information. God decided it was time to meet and everything fell into place when they contacted Children’s Home Society of Minnesota for help. We met on Memorial Day and have spent many fun days together. They are my heroes for all of the unconditional love they have shown me and the joy that they bring into my life. I am blessed beyond words to finally know them. I am the baby of the family — there are seven older brothers and sisters! — and feel like I’ve known them all of my life.

I guess in a way I have; I just didn’t know who they were. They have filled in that missing puzzle piece in my heart, and it’s wonderful to know what a great family I came from. I love them all and can’t imagine my life without them. God is Good!

Cynthia Scherer

Hero: Lt. Col. Michael Kerr, USAF retired

I have never met my hero. When I was about 13 years old, I ordered a bracelet with the name of a POW on it. This was during the Vietnam conflict. I wore this silver bracelet for about four years and each night would say a prayer for the man I only knew by name, rank and date of capture.

He was captured on Jan. 16, 1967. He was released on March 4, 1972. Sometime afterward, while watching the local station I saw him emerge from the plane, greeted by his wife and two young children. That was an awesome moment for me, and I remember it like it was yesterday. Many of the POWs were returning to the states. I never thought I would actually see him. He was no longer just a name, but a real person, husband and father.

I still have the bracelet and have tried to locate him or his children. I would love to send the bracelet to him and let him know he was in my thoughts and prayers over the years.

Roxanne Irons

Hero: Jaris Smith

My mother Jaris Smith was and still is my hero! Even after her passing, I still look at her as a person who was always there for me as a parent, a confidant and a friend. With her strength and love backing our family, we always felt we could do anything.

We never wanted for love in our home no matter how tough things were, or how great things were. We always were treated to the same love and compassion each day. Even in the last few years, with mom living in pain each day, she never would let you know. She may be the toughest individual I know and may ever know.

I am sad to say it took her passing to make me realize this fact. Tough but fair. Strong but kind. A friend to all. A mother. A wife. A friend. My hero. My mom. My friend. I will never forget you. I will always miss you.

Jim Smith

Hero: Norah Johnson

Norah Ann Johnson

My hero is my niece, Norah Ann Johnson, who was born July 1, 2010, to Andy and Leah Johnson. Norah was born 2 1/2 months premature, and delivered by emergency C-section, due to hydrops from severe heart failure. She was born at 4.4 pounds with 2.5 pounds being fluid. A couple of days after she was born the doctors discovered that Norah had one of the rarest heart defects, left ventricular noncompation cardiomyopathy. I remember the first time I saw her, she was like a bloated water baby, just like the one I had when I was a little girl. I had never seen such a small baby. Her chance of survival was 10 percent. I fell in love and had my heart broken at the same time. I couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain that my brother- and sister-in-law were and are feeling.

Since then, Norah has conquered many goals and overcome many mountains in her short life that many of us will never face in a life time. A few of her accomplishments are getting to go outside for the first time, being able to finally go home at 5 months, taking a trip to Albert Lea and Clarks Grove to see both sets of grandparents, and now getting back on feeding through a bottle; things we all, let alone new parents, take for granted. Norah takes 24 doses of medicine a day and has two IVs giving her medicine 24 hours a day just to keep her heart going. She is listed as a 1A for a heart transplant. Now that she is finally home, a nurse comes and stays the night two to three times a week to help Andy and Leah so that they can go to work and keep being great parents to both Norah and her 3-year-old brother, Nolan. Andy, Leah, Nolan and Norah had to move from their home in Farmington to a new home in Minneapolis so that they could be closer to the hospital in case something goes wrong or they get the anxiously awaited phone call that they found a heart for Norah. Norah now weighs 12 pounds 8 ounces, all being healthy weight. There aren’t any explanations so far as to why God gave Norah this heart condition.

Norah is my hero because she knows nothing other than to be strong and fight for herself. She has taught me to never take loved ones for granted and to always show that love. I now say, “I love you” more than I ever did before. Our family has always been close, but I believe that because of her, we are even closer. I think that she came to us as a gift and to teach us the difference between importance and nonsense. To me, Norah is not a “sick baby,” she’s an angel and a privilege to anyone that meets her. Norah is my hero.

Norah’s got heart!

LaChelle Johnson

Hero: Iris Tarvestad

My all-time hero is my wife, Iris Tarvestad. She has always been a good wife, great mother, dedicated volunteer, active church member, dedicated to our family and the two does she dearly loves. She does it all and never complains.

2010 was a trying year for me healthwise. I can’t begin to tell all the things she did for me to make me comfortable and keep me on the mend. She attended all my meetings with the doctors. She made me special meals to get me down to surgical weight. She was the best nurse possible after my surgeries, anything she could possibly do she did caringly and skillfully. I believe 2010 was the year we were closest to each other, mostly because of her dedication to what we went through. It was a tough year but one of the best I have had. Iris is my everyday hero and I love her.

Thanks, Iris.

Terry Tarvestad

Hero: Joanne Almquist

Joanne Almquist

My hero is my mom. She has been there for me for my entire 22 years. Whether I am having trouble financially or with relationships, she does whatever it takes to help me through it. I may not say it often enough but I really appreciate her and what she’s done for me. I could not ask for a better mother, I wouldn’t trade her for anything. I know that whenever and wherever I need her, she will always be there.

Tara Almquist

Hero: Omar Dahl

Most people envision a hero as someone who is strong, brave and relentless. One who has leaped over insurmountable obstacles to save the lives of others as well as themselves and carry with them the battle scars along with displayed medals of honor and achievements. The heroes that I have the most respect for, however, are the ones who, despite their weakened state, wake up every day to a world that they can no longer conquer. They face adversity head on, knowing that instead of medals of honor, they carry the battle scars of infirmity that are displayed on their bodies and in their minds. They know there will be no applause or recognition at the end of their battle but have the inner strength to keep waking up each day. To be brutally beaten and taken down and yet have the strength and dignity at the end of the day to say, “Well, I’m still alive.”

My father served our country in World War II and was very proud of this. He managed our town’s VFW Club for many years and participated in our local parades, proudly carrying a flag to honor our heroes who served our country overseas. He was a Military Order of the Cootie commander, and he would visit veterans in the hospital and in nursing homes. I was proud of him for doing all these things, but the battles he bravely fought and faced the last nine years of his life are what I will forever be the most proud of him for. These are the years that made him a hero in battle as he bravely faced and fought in the last years of his life with a courage that we will never forget.

I didn’t realize how strong my father was until he became weakened by his illnesses. I didn’t realize until he was gone that he tried to be strong so that our family would have the courage we needed as we watched his life change and how his illnesses brutally took over, making his yesteryears only a shadow of the past life that he had once lived. But he bravely faced each day and ended each night with a promise. We would kiss him goodnight and tell him “See you tomorrow, Dad” and he would tell us “I’ll be here” and he would be for us.

There were many times that we thought we were going to lose him during a hospitalization or his amputation surgeries. After spending days fighting for his life, he would wake up and to cheer us up he would sing his “Little Chicken” song to us, indicating that all was well and that he had made it through once again. We would stand around his bed and applaud after he finished his song and he would proudly smile and continue to bravely face the days ahead.

We were his little army fighting along side of him each day. Even though he was weakened by his illnesses, he was the leader. He knew that if he was OK, that we would be OK, and he fought to be strong so that we would be strong. Even at the end of a bad day we would ask him “How are you, Dad?” He would tell us “Well, I’m still alive!”

I didn’t know until later that he had told his minister that he had to stay here for his family, even though he suffered each day and had to live with the humiliation that sometimes goes along with depending upon others for your daily care, many of whom never knew who he really was or had been before in his life. They had only seen him in the illness that had taken over him, and I can’t imagine how difficult that must of been for him. But he would bravely wake up to it every day so he could be with his family. I know it was difficult for him to wake up to a world that was so different from the one that he had previously known before he became so ill, but he did it and faced it daily.

Heroes are not born heroes. They are made what they are through adversity, and my father faced this adversity with the inner strength and stamina of the best of them.

My father’s battle was over on Jan. 13, 2010. He was a brave soldier in the battlefield called life. His war had been won the day he left this earth and God called him into His kingdom.

I will never forget one of the greatest heroes who had ever lived. My father, Omar Monroe Dahl.

Jody Johnson

Hero: Amy Wasson

Amy Wasson is a hero and inspiration to me. She is an amazing woman who brings strength to those who need it most. She gives of herself selflessly in the community and around the world. Amy strives to make this world a better place from advocating for those fighting breast cancer to helping children in Honduras. I am grateful for Amy’s ability to empower others to give of themselves. Through Amy’s encouragement I started an advocacy group to help others with FMD, or fibromuscular dysplasia. Amy has made a tremendous impact in the lives of many. Amy Wasson is the definition of an everyday hero.

Kari Ulrich

Heroes: Honor guard
The people that I think can be defined as heroes are the military honor guard from the Post 447 VFW and Post 56 American Legion.

For example in 2010 these honor guards attended more than 90 funerals by going to the funeral service and the honors held at the church, funeral homes or the cemeteries to show respect for the deceased veterans family. This honor started during World War II when the deceased veterans were brought home. They also participated in the Memorial Day festivities at cemeteries and the dropping of the wreath at Fountain Lake. On Veterans Day they visit area schools and have a program at the Courthouse for the public. This past year they also visited and had a flag folding ceremony at St. John’s Lutheran Home. The following is a list of these heroes and the war they fought in.
VFW: Dueane Hatleli, Korean; Joe Carlin, WWII; Bob Peterson, WWII; Merlin Thisius, WWII; Eldon Schmitt, WWII; Forrie Claussen, Korean; Joe Avelar, Vietnam; John Severtson, Vietnam; Dean Allen, Vietnam; Harry Larkin, Korean; Al Brooks, Korean; Dennis Smith, Vietnam; John Rhiger, Vietnam; Tim Donahue, Vietnan; Bob Levison, Vietnam; Marvin Fuller, Korean; Larry Weigel, Vietnam; Charles Peterson, Vietnam; Jim Hockinson, Vietnam.
Buglers: Ed Nelson, WWII; Robert Miller, WWII and Korean; Ralph Wangen, National Guard.
American Legion: Harold (Bill) Christenson, Korean; Dave Mullenback, Vietnam; John Eisterhold, Vietnam; Robert Guenther, Vietnam; Robert Haskins, Korean; Robert Indrelie, Vietnam; Richard Lowman, Vietnam; Gene Lysne, Korean; Bill Danielsen, Vietnam; Ron Mathews, Vietnam; Bill Neff, Korean; Les Shaunce, Vietnam; Lowell Peterson, Vietnam; Corald Peterson, Vietnam; Ray Hardies, Vietnam; Ken Breamer, Vietnam; Bill Goette, Korean; Dave Skogheim, Vietnam; Rex Stotts, Vietnam; Steve Hoelscher, Vietnam; Dave Olson, Vietnam; Wes Halvorson, SW Asia; Fred Stein, Vietnam; Laurie Neff, SW Asia; Mick Jaquette, Vietnam; Albert Allen, Vietnam.

Eunice Hatleli
VFW Auxiliary president

Hero: Wayne Hedalen
He is the kindest man and so willing to help out. Every winter he blows the snow from everyone’s sidewalk in the neighborhood every time it snows. He has also helped several people when they have needed help moving. He’s always willing to lend a helping hand and refuses to take anything for his service. He truly is a hero.

Leslie Kurth

Hero: Chelsea Schellenberg

My oldest child, Chelsea, is my hero. A few years ago I never would have dreamed it. To say she had difficult teen years would be an understatement. I attribute every gray hair on my head to her! The last two years she has done an about-face. In her junior year of high school she took classes at Riverland Community College and became a certified nursing assistant. She worked at St. John’s Lutheran Home while going to high school and was a ray of sunshine to the people she helped take care of. She finished high school at the top of her class and is now going to Riverland to become an registered nurse, while working at Good Samaritan Center. She still makes visits to the people she loves who live at St. John’s. Not only is she working hard at her job and school, she is also raising my first granddaughter, who is now 1 1/2 years old. She’s the spitting image of her beautiful mama and just as feisty! It amazes me how well she handles all of this so well. She is a blessing to the people she helps take care of; she is again at the top of her classes and works hard to keep up her grades. She is a wonderful mom. I look up to my daughter very much, and it isn’t possible to let her know how much. She is without a doubt my hero.

Rosalind Swenson