Big bin Laden News Excites Oakdale Veterans

News of Osama bin Laden’s death evoked strong emotions from Americans across the country, but for those who’ve served in the military, it held a special meaning, Oakdale veterans say.

“They’ve been in the position where they have, in a lot of cases, have had their necks on the line to a certain extent and have been willing to go to war for this country if necessary,” said Oakdale Police Capt. Jack Kettler, a veteran. “I think military veterans probably feel it more than people that have not been involved in it.”

Kettler, who served as a Marine Embassy Guard in Kabul, Afghanistan, when the Soviet Union invaded in 1979, said he’d get a little thrill when he looked up at that American flag. He said he felt a similar streak of patriotism with Sunday’s news.

“I was pretty elated that they finally got him,” Kettler said. “I knew they would, and I knew it would just be a matter of time, and his luck finally ran out.”

This doesn’t mean the end of the War on Terror, but it’s definitely a turning point, Kettler said, with the removal of a rallying point, figurehead and symbol of international terrorism.

The news is also bringing national attention back onto those serving in the military and veterans, he said, at least for a short time.

“People will … think about the risks that these people took, and it’s really incredible that they were able to pull it off, because this is a long way from the Afghan border,” Kettler said. “That just boggles my mind that they could get out.”

A group of Oakdale volunteers has been focused on honoring veterans since long before the news about bin Laden’s death came out.

The committee working to raise the money to build a new veterans memorial at had been hoping to have it up in time for the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 this year, and doing so would be “extra special now, after getting bin Laden,” said committee member and veteran Bill Rasmussen. 

“There were service people on those planes,” said Rasmussen, who served in Germany between the Korean and Vietnam wars. “It would be nice if we could do something to honor those people.”

Although he worries somewhat about retaliation, Rasmussen said he was "tickled to death," to hear about bin Laden's death while watching the news Sunday night.

Money will determine whether the committee will be able to have the memorial up by fall, Rasmussen said. If the city can secure $50,000 in state money requested by Sen. Chuck Wiger and Rep. Nora Slawik, Rasmussen said he has no doubt they’ll be able to move fast on the memorial. So far, the group has raised about $10,000 of its $100,000 goal—mostly from local banks, he said. The committee is still waiting to hear back from many businesses about whether they’ll donate toward the cause, but Rasmussen is hopeful, he said.

Individuals can also donate by purchasing pavers engraved in the name of a veteran for $75. For more information go to ci.oakdale.mn.us and click on “Veteran’s Memorial.”