I will begin this story by saying that my weekend was one filled with love, family and faith, all because of a young soldier whom I never knew. The spiritual fulfillment, the mystery, the interventions...along with a small congregation of Norwegian worshipers, made my journey with the Purple Heart so much more than I ever thought! So let me share the last of my story with you and may you too, feel a stray tear roll down your cheek..... When arriving in the township of Arcadia, we werent quite sure where we were going first. Thats when we saw the sign for the Tamarack Lutheran Church. This side country, winding road, took us through the beautiful hills of the Tamarack Valley. When rounding a corner, thats when I saw this beautiful church and I knew that that was the church we were looking for! My excitement started to grow when we stopped to get out and take pictures. But then one of many intervention of the weekend happened...one car happened to drive by. Then it turned around and stopped. A gentleman and his wife asked us if we needed assistance or if we would like to know anything about the church since they were members. So I started by asking, do you remember a Chet (it really is Chat) and Hannah Olson? He replied yes... Did they have a son named Leo? This is when this man stepped out of his car and came around to me and then said ....yes... I extended my hand and said Hi...Im Sherrie Benes, the Postmaster of Whitewater and I have Leo Olsons Purple Heart. This gentleman who stopped, Randy Nilsestuen, is the Tamarack Lutheran Churchs historian, whom my father in law had spoken to a few months ago when trying to find ancestors of Leo! IF we would have been a few minutes earlier, or a few minutes later, our paths would never have crossed...someone put us there, at that time, in that place for that meeting to happen. I then told him the story of how I came to be with it and how we were going to be attending their church services in the morning to give it back to his church family. He invited us to come early the next day to share in fellowship before service, to meet some of the other members and have coffee and cakes. We gladly accepted! Next stop...the Tamarack Lutheran Cemetery. This cemetery is tucked up in the hills along Hwy 93. When driving by, you would never know this cemetery was there. It is not marked and we were told by church members, that it was to keep it safe from vandalism. It sits up on a hill overlooking a beautiful valley and when we arrived, the sun was in the west casting the last of the afternoon rays on the weathered headstones. We were concerned that we would have a hard time finding Leos gravestone, but I wasnt even through the entrance gates when Gary said he found it. He said that it felt like someone drew him to it....intervention?? Absolutely... After much walking around, picture taking and paying our respects to all of these individuals, my heart was filled with so many mixed emotions when leaving. To the right of Leo, lies his parents, Chat and Hannah Olson, and as I was walking away with their sons Purple Heart in my hand I thought, dont worry Mr. and Mrs. Olson. Your son did not die in vain and is not forgotten, I will make sure of that.... Bright and early Sunday morning, I awoke with much anticipation of finally bringing this Purple Heart home and getting the chance to meet some of Leos family. I wondered how they would react when they saw it and read my letter later that day. I wondered where they would place this honorable medal in this church filled with so many old family ties... Well, this was not going to be the case! For at the beginning of the service, Pastor Danna asked Randy to come up to the alter and introduce his guests and the reason they were here. With our introduction, Randy then asked me to come up and tell the congregation my story.... Let me first tell you, that I love to write....but to stand in front of people to talk is not in my comfort zone. I whispered to my sister in law Kay, I cant do this! She responded, Yes you can...Speak from your heart Sherrie. Thus began my story, with my voice quivering and trying not to cry, I made it through. After applause and thank yous from the congregation, Pastor Danna went on with her greetings. With this one greeting I am going to mention, remember it for when I tell you about another intervention... Pastor Danna was saying her good mornings and then she said Well Mr. Gilbertson!! What brings you out today??! .....In the back of the church sat an elderly man in a wheelchair. This was the gentleman we assumed she was referring to. After the readings were finished, the gospel was spoken, the communion was served and the Saints were honored, the services ended. I felt complete...well, almost. When rising from the pew, I turned and saw this elderly gentleman coming up the aisle in his wheel chair. He stopped in front of us and said I remember the day Leo was killed...I was about 6 or 7 years old then..... Ya know his family just lived down in the valley, a road over. The 3rd farm on the left. and with a thank you from Mr. Gilbertson, he wheeled back down the aisle. WOW. We were dumbfounded on this intervention, and of course we knew exactly where our last stop was going to be before heading home. Again we found ourselves driving through Gods country, through the valley, down this twisting winding road...and then we saw it. This picturesque farm, sitting down in the valley, down a long gravel driveway, with an American flag flying brightly in the sun. We knew that we found Leos home farm. Again, emotions rolled inside of me...thinking about that day, when down that gravel drive, someone from the United States Government had driven, to deliver the news to Hannah and Chat that their only son had given the Ultimate Sacrifice for our country. My heart weeps for this family I never knew, for the beautiful Norwegian people of the Tamarack Valley, but mostly for Leo, my forever Unknown Soldier. You have taken me on a journey that has changed me in a way I cant describe. With that, I would like to share the Norwegien Blessing that is published on the last page of the Tamarack Lutheran History book that was so lovingly given to me during the church services. God Bless you all my friends... May da ruts always fit da wheels in your pickup May your ear mufs always keep out da nort wind May da sun shine varm on yur lefse May da rain fall soft on yur lutefisk And until ve meet again, May da good Lord protect ya from any and all unnecessary Uff Das.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 12:16:38 +0000
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