The last of the Mrs. Anderson stories continues this week. We leave off with what she taught her 4th-grade class about Sgt. York as a Medal of Honor winner in WWI. He received the Medal of Honor for killing 28 Germans and taking 132 prisoners.

Jim continues...

“On our trip to France, we stopped at the Meuse-Argonne area, a place I hadn’t been to before. I looked over Google Earth to find some likely-looking spots.

We found a number of artifacts out in the woods, including live artillery shells and grenades. When we stopped for fuel, a friendly Frenchman said, "We don't see many Americans anymore." He also asked if we were going to visit the site where Sgt. York won his Medal of Honor. 

We hadn’t planned on it, but our group had become ardent artifact hunters. So, we drove through a small town, and found an area adjacent where the French military (not the U.S.) maintains a rough trail. Unable to drive the trail due to the wet conditions, we walked a bit until we found a marker that identified the approximate spot where he captured the large haul of prisoners. 

This really was not the spot, according to my reading of his account. I knew that York had been higher on the hill, an area too steep to construct a road.

We went up the hill and it didn’t take long to find the remnants of a German trench. Unlike the British, French or Americans, the Germans were fighting a defensive war. Doing so, they built fortifications of concrete to prevent being pushed out, and augmented them with machine guns.

We fanned out to search for artifacts, however no digging took place in the forest carpet of leaves, as you don’t know what lies below. 

In only a few minutes, Victor Mrotz yelled, ‘Over here! What’s this?’ At the base of a tree were a dozen German Potato masher hand grenades. This was a full box just left there almost 100 years ago.

We kept our distance and photographed them. The wooden handles had long-since rotted away, but the priming fuse holes had blue corrosion around them. They were live!  We carefully probed with our fingers, and came up with empty brass shells and two live 8mm machine gun shells!

Then the marker on the road below indicated that near here was where Sgt. York captured his prisoners. The German trenches, grenades, machine gun bullets, plus the fact that York’s account mentions capturing a machine gun strong point, and I would say the probability was high that this is where Sgt. York captured his prisoners!

After returning home, I tried to identify the German grenades. They had wooden inserts in the grenade. Prior to 1916, they were filled with black powder and after the introduction of high explosives, they proved too powerful and a hazard to the thrower.

The German’s put a wooden spacer in the grenade so they contained less of the new high-explosive powder and handled like the old ones. The cases were also stamped metal, an indication that they were produced in 1917 or 1918. Again, this is the correct time period of when York won his medal.

Areas of Europe are still filled with the debris of war. Yes, we have had battles here on our continent. There are battles that secured this land for us, the internal battle of the north and south, but nothing is like the widespread destruction seen in Europe.

Did you know that there is land that no one farms in Europe because it is so full of unexploded ordinance? During WWI, in the valley of France’s Somme River, a million artillery shells a week traded sides.

Due to the swampy ground and the old black powder, about 15 percent of the shells didn’t explode. Almost 100 years later, there are still an estimated 1.5 million unexploded shells in the ground. 

Because the land is still so contaminated, it is often not always worth the time and effort or the risk to remove them. The theoretical life of gunpowder is 885 years, but the real worry today is poison gas shells. The shells are starting to corrode.

In the spring, farmers in our own area often pick up the rocks that are in their way or a detriment to their crops, and pile them beside the field. In the war-torn areas of Europe, the unexploded shells are called the Iron Harvest as the shells work their way to the top.

The farmers pile the shells along the edge of their fields, serving as grim reminders of the cost of wars. The French military makes the rounds on country roads every couple of weeks, and take the shells for demolition. Twenty years ago, about 30 farmers a year were killed.

Today, it is only about a dozen. And you thought farming was hazardous here!

Some areas grow up into small forests because the area was so bad it isn't worth the time, effort or danger of trying to clear the land. The land is still hillocky with craters from the explosions; hardly a square yard was untouched. The trees grew up in the unfarmed soil too. 

Every village was destroyed. Not a wall is left standing after an artillery barrage of up to 60,000 shells per day. Some were rebuilt. Some never were. 

Over 500,000 pounds of live ammunition is disposed of every year, ammunition that was buried with the people who died there and were all too often buried in the trenches they died in. 

The scars of war are everywhere. In the springtime, when the fields are bare, white areas of the chalk underlying the soil are visible. There are shell impacts, or trenches dug to avoid the rain of steel.

It isn’t only artillery shells that are unearthed. Hand grenades are in abundance, and more personal items like water bottles, bayonets, entrenching tools, and mess kits are found, which doesn’t bode well for what happened to their erstwhile owners.

The artillery was so vicious that about a quarter of a million soldiers have no known grave. They were simply blown to bits. The British forces lost 58,000 men on the Somme alone on the first day! They maintain the cemeteries very well and have constructed huge monuments that list the names of all of the missing.

What isn’t listed is the impact on families and the countries. Almost a quarter of an entire generation of men were casualties, and even higher percentages from places like Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.”

A detective story concluded 57 years after first heard from his 4th-grade teacher, 4500 miles away!  Who knows what effect each of us has on others?

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, May 30th: Payton Allen Misgen, Daniel Larson, Molly Hanson, Chuck Crabtree, Shirley Nelson, Julie & Toby Oquist.

• Friday, May 31st: Nathan Jensen, Jerry White, Pat Draayer, Ryan Sletten, Jim Hamor, Robert DuBois, Cierra Hanson.

• Saturday, June 1st: Carter Anthony Martens, Randy Hagen, Brandi Hagen, John Hanson, Bert Wiersma, Phyllis Benson, Joe Wallace, Julie Dulas, Kenny Toft, Maria Misgen, Tony Sommers, Bob Flim, Glenn Gerdes, Lindsey Lembke, Denise Evenson Wilson, Jeff & Sharon Lageson, Orville & Mavis Langlie.

• Sunday, June 2nd: Maia Kathleen Peterson, Brent Dobberstein, Angie Goodnature Kath, Taylor Draayer, Sue Jensen Kuckenbecker, Steve Kasper, Cindy Olson, Barry Esplan, Krystle Lonning, Donald Haberman, Ahston Haried, Trent Hanson, Brandon McLaughlin, Tammy & Garth Gonnering, Greg & Nicole Shultz, Eric & Snow Lee, their 6th.

• Monday, June 3rd: Isabella Grace Kohn, her 3rd; Devin Matthew Haddy, his 6th; Justin Stieglbauer, David Hall, Troy Vavra, Jason Jenkins, Michael Bartness, Angie Kasper Christenson, George Kasper, Chrisopher Conley, Max Miller, Esther Van Ravenhorst, Misty (Ebnet) & Jeremy Krueger, Eric & Christine Nelson.

• Tuesday, June 4th: Dale Miller, Becky Nordland, Jim Borchert, Judith Severson, Warren Nelson, Jamie & Tina Hagen, Art & Doris DeNeui, Jan & Andrew Bernau, their 6th.

• Wednesday, June 5th: Beulah Crabtree, Marcia Vermedahl, Shawn Johnson, Paul Krull, David Reistad, Mike Rossing, Lisa Jensen Nord, Jack Butler, Greg Oswald, Michael Schmidt, Ron & Jolee Johnson, Stacy (Osmundson) & Trevor Titus, Erica (Van Kampen) & Jacob McClaskey, Elzo & Joy Peterson.

May you find joy and pleasure all around you on your special day.

I recently read news concerning Zonnebeki, Belgium. They are rushing to repair the nearly 12,000 head stones aligned in solemn rows of gloomy white. Beyond the walls stretches Flanders Field, serving as the stage of some of World War Ist carnage.

World War I centenary commemorations will take place between the years 2014-2018. The fields during World War I were steeped in blood, mud and iron. The stumps of burnt trees stood like charred matches as men and boys in trenches watched their feet rot and their friends die.

World War I broke out July 28, 1914. An estimated 10 million people died. But did you know there's more there than these graves still evident today almost 100 years after the battles? 

Did you ever hear of the trenches of the "Trench of the Bayonets" or the "Devonshire Trench"?  I didn't, but over 50 years ago, a teacher at the Ellendale School read and talked to her fourth grade class about this topic and made an impression upon one of her students

Do you remember your school teachers? All of them? Some of them?  Special teachers?

My cousin, Jim Hanson of Clarks Grove, who went to school in Ellendale through fourth grade, can name all of his teachers, grade school through high school.

Jim has taken the time to investigate the stories that were told while he was in school. Jim, has has traveled overseas 17 times. Every time he has learned a little more. In between those trips, he studied more. Evidence of these battles still remains in artifacts and ammunition still buried and exploded lying in the battle fields.

Here is Jim’s story that has spanned 57 years.

“My 4th-grade teacher was Mrs. Anderson. (sorry, I don’t have a first name. In those days, teachers were addressed as Miss or Mrs.) She was perhaps in her late 50s, meaning she was born about 1900. We would do the standard 3-Rs from the textbook, but she taught much more than that.

She would take a few minutes each day to read from a book or just to talk with us about anything she found interesting. (Perhaps the original Whatever Comes to Mind!).

She had an appreciation for history, and many of her talks were of things that had a profound influence upon her life - WWI, the Bonus Army March on Washington, the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, women getting the right to vote, etc.  Each of these personal stories gave kids an insight into the responsibilities of an adult and isn’t that what schools are supposed to do?

I recall how she talked about WWI - the horrors of trench warfare, artillery bombardment, the new machine guns, the carnage and what a waste it was.  Rather than glorify the war, she gave us vignettes of tragedy and loss - the Trench of the Bayonets, Devonshire Trench, and America’s WW I hero, Sgt. Alvin York. For English class, she made us memorize poetry - In Flander’s Field about not forgetting the dead - Sandbergs I Am the Grass, which was about the futility of war - and lighthearted items like Pershing at the Front.

I belong to an ad-hoc group of history buffs. Every year, we try to visit a place that history turned a page - a great event in history. In 2001, we visited the Somme WW I battlefields in northern France. The carnage there was particularly bad, which included trench warfare and cavalry vs. the new mechanized warfare of artillery, machine guns, tanks, poison gas, flamethrowers and airplanes. 

As a result, over 1,250,000 men were lost in a relatively small area. Over 200,000 simply disappeared. The explosions left no body to be buried.  

I was determined to find some of the places Mrs. Anderson had told us about so long ago. I found the Trench of the Bayonets near Verdun, France (where another 1,250,000 men killed, injured, missing, or taken prisoner). Just as she had described, a company of French soldiers were poised to go over the top of the trenches and assault the German lines.

They had their long-barreled rifles, with fixed bayonets, slung over their shoulders.  An artillery shell exploded behind the lines, caving in the trench. The result: they were buried alive while standing. The only thing protruding above ground were the tips of their bayonets - all in a row. 

The French left them that way. The Americans, who were moved by the sight, created a marble monument over the trench. In 2001, seven bayonets were still visible. They have since rotted away; only the stubs holding them to the rifle remain. I couldn’t help but think to myself, “The old lady knew what she was talking about!”

On the Somme, I resolved to find the Devonshire Trench. During WWI, up to half of a company workforce, town enlistment or school class could enlist and serve together.  The Devonshires had been at the front for several months, and couldn’t advance because German machine guns protected the German trenches. 

The Devons had earned a short leave. Some took leave in Paris. Some went home to England.

They went through the usual round of parties in an attempt to forget the horror of the war. But, in the back of their mind, they knew that they would have to assault that deadly machine gun when they went back. 

Their commander, Capt. Martin, made maps and even paper mache models to try to figure out how to take the machine gun. Even so, they were convinced that with their exposed position, it would be a slaughter.

Saying goodbye to loved ones, they went back to the war and occupied the trench.  The command to advance came as expected. The whistle blew and they went over the top as ordered. 

As they expected, nearly every man was killed, all 135 of them. Following the custom of the day, they were buried together in unused portions of the trenches. It became a British rallying cry.

The Devonshires held this trench. The Devonshires hold it still! 

I looked for markers to find the Devonshire Trench, to no avail. I asked the locals. Each tried to help, but had no idea where to find it. My traveling companions wanted to go back to the hotel.

I offered to take them back and continue alone. They stayed with me. We finally found the little cemetery on a hill behind some trees. A wooden plaque said “The Devonshires held this trench, the Devonshires hold it still!” Once again, Mrs. Anderson had been right all along!

I went over to France again last year with other friends. This time, my wife, Maryalice, went with me.

This time, I had done more research. I checked British battle accounts, and hand-drawn maps of the area. If the cemetery was a trench, we should be able to find the continuation of the trench in the woods. 

Sure enough, we could make out the depression marking a silted-in trench. We returned this year in late March. Maryalice, my brother Bob, and Victor and Kellie Mrotz went with us. After more study of old maps, I was able to pinpoint the position of the German machine gun that cut down the Devonshires.

Since the grass was not yet growing, we went artifact hunting in the embankment in front of the trench and the fields alongside. Victor unearthed the hilt of a Trench Sword fighting knife (usually carried by British officers - all three of the Devonshire officers were killed.) Bob came up with the find of the day, an 8 mm German machine gun bullet found near the Devonshire trench.

According to both German and British records, the only machine gun in that area was the one that cut down the Devonshires. It was like a "cold case file," - 97 years after the incident. Fifty-seven years after I first heard about it, we solved it.

Mrs. Anderson was proved right again, 57 years later! Who knows what information a teacher imparts? A lesson that stayed with me and brought to life 57 years later - and 4500 miles away from Ellendale!

To be continued next week...

— — —

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, May 23rd: Stephane Paul Martin, her 4th; Will Richard Utpadel, his 6th: Ilsbeth Wayne, Jeanne Simonson, Melissa Shaunce, Burton Borchert, Orville Langlie, Karen Quam, Rodney & Peggy Sorenson, Duane & Janice Morreim, Jeff & Sara Miller, Rebecca & Tim Brekke.

• Friday, May 24th: David Christensen, Merlyn Swearingen, Marlyn Swearingen, Reta Draayer, Nina Widlund.

• Saturday, May 25th: Dakota Matthew Kath, his 8th: Riley Dean Disher, his 6th; Jack Harpel, Jackie Johnson Miller, Jim Pichner, Cara Christensen, Valerie Peterson, Richard Fetterly, Bill Nechanicky, Rick Miller, Deb Parks, Paul Reese, Troy & Kelly Utpadel, Dave & Barbara Van Gorkom.

• Sunday, May 26th: Jeff Wayne, Roger Wangsness, Natalie Hanson, Jim Cummins, Jennifer Beaber, Jeremy Beaber, Melissa Redmon, Karey (Kalakian) & Chris Shearman.

• Monday, May 27th: Eileen Bergland, Lisa Hanson, Steve Jepson, Shane Callahan, Stacy Wobschall, Rev. Beaber, Theresa Kasper, Rick Loven, Carolee Broitzman George, Tracy Marcus, Lisa Hanson, Steve Jepson, Michael Butler, Steve & Karen Quam, Megan & Joel Cooper.

• Tuesday, May 28th: Sara Beth Carlson, her 3rd; Lily Lee Olson, her 3rd; Madalyn Kehne, Madison Catherine Knudson, Susan Schmidt, Marie Fowler, Rick & Jenny Loberg, Gerritt & Kathy Molenaar.

• Wednesday, May 29th: Brent Peterson, Deb Farr, Odean Otterson, Gene Pederson, Mark Butler, Ross Lein, Colin Quimby, Rod & Sandi Serdahl, John & Susan Oolman, Lily & Jerry Neitzel.

May your special day blossom with many reasons to smile!

The school year is about ready to come to a close, so I would like to dedicate this week’s column to great teachers.

Do you remember your teachers? All of them? Some of them were special ones.

Do you have a favorite teacher or person who taught you more than ordinary book learning?

Two things came up this week that gave me pause to think.

I happened upon a familiar story on the Internet.

It's the story of a nun and a precocious little boy, Mark, who was forever getting into mischief, and when she would discipline him he always said, “Thank you for correcting me, sister.” She taped his mouth shut. He winked at her. She couldn't help but laugh. 

Six years later, she had him in her math class. One day, sensing her class was frustrated and edgy, she asked them to list the names of their fellow classmates on a sheet of paper. Then she told them to write the nicest thing they could say about each one next to their name. 

The following Saturday, she wrote their names on separate sheets of paper and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday, she handed out the lists that she had made for each one of them. 

Upon receiving their sheet of paper, they all smiled, and said, “I didn't know that I meant anything to anyone.” No one ever mentioned the papers again. 

Some years later, Mark was killed in Vietnam. She went to his funeral and all she could think of was how she had used masking tape to take the boy’s mouth shut, and how she would give anything to have him speak to her now.

After the funeral, one of the pallbearers told her how often Mark had talked about her. Mark’s father said, "I want to show you something we found in Mark’s things." It was two pieces of notebook paper that had been taped, folded and refolded many times. It was the list.

"Thank you," Mark’s mother said, "You can see how much he treasured it."

Hearing the comments from Mark’s father and mother, Mark’s classmates gathered around and one by one said, "I still have my list."

The purpose of this is to encourage everyone to compliment the people you love and care about.  That nun was from Morris, Minn., and yes, the story is true. 

The second story is about someone even closer to home, a teacher who taught in Ellendale 50 or 60 years ago. Elementary classrooms back at that time usually held two different grades and about 40 children.

Teachers had a hard job. There was no special education, music or physical education programs. They did it all. 

Mrs. Anderson was "just an ordinary school teacher," but she was much more to James Hanson.

There was an inspirational poem called, "The Touch of the Master’s Hand," by Myra Brooks Welch. Fifty-seven years ago, Mrs. Anderson read the poem to her fourth-grade class.

I mentioned the poem and Jim Hanson was able to come right up with the name. Mrs. Anderson certainly made a profound effect upon him!

That is not all he remembers.

Mrs. Anderson also taught WWI history. In 2001, Jim was able to visit the Somme in France and made a point of looking for the “Devonshire Trench” and “Trench of the Bayonets” Mrs. Anderson had talked about in class. It took Jim a whole day to find it, but he did. 

He was able to go back to France last year with more information, and again this year with Victor and Kelly Mrotz and others. 

Jim showed them the area, as well as where they could look for artifacts. Victor found the hilt of a trench sword, and someone else found the very trench that the Devonshires had left. 

With the information he had learned from that teacher 57 years ago, and combining it with a desire to make the connection with her teaching, Jim was able to come up with the position of the Devonshires and their attackers that Mrs. Anderson mentioned. 

He also was able to discern the field of fire to locate bullets from that very machine gun that caused the carnage in the history books. He and his brother Bob actually found two German machine gun bullets from a war almost a century ago, verifying the information Mrs. Anderson had taught her class over a half century ago.  

It was almost like a crime detective novel – a “cold-case” mystery played out in almost a century in being solved – using information given to a boy over half a century ago, who used it to reconstruct the crime scene 4,500 miles from where he heard the information. 

You never know when you might have an influence on other people. Mrs. Anderson certainly did!

Look for an addition to this story in a later issue of the Star Eagle.

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. If you have news, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, May 16th: Ron Kubicek, Mark Reistad, Mark Skroch, Vernie Stieglbauer, Kim Lageson, Doug Lembke, Judy Karsjens, Anne Larson, Allycia Zinke, Becky Phagan, Bev White, Annie Larson, Christine & Brian Carlson.

• Friday, May 17th: Laura Caroline Deml, her 6th; Caitlyn Nelson, David Thompson, Dale DeRaad, Rhonda Lund Thevenot, Jerry Blouin, Robert Briggs, Dyne Thereneau, Kay Barclay, Darlyne Paulson, Luella Reiman, Judith Hatch, Thomas Shawback, Rose & Carl Glienke.

• Saturay, May 18th: Blake Ihrke, Zachary Jacob Dau, Cory Bailey, David Farr, Arlene Busho, Arlene Cummins, Xan Johnson, Mandy Muri Johannsen, Charlie Hanson, Dan Schember, Hank Thompson, Carol Stohr, Roger Draayer, Kelly Krumwiede, Rod Serdahl, Dan & Val Schember, Sue & Dean Westrum, Ken & Pat Sable.

• Sunday, May 19th: Christina Hill Berry, Madison Schweirjohann, Summer Schember Schultz, Mike Rysavy, John Oolman, Dawn Parks, Tim & Tiffany Hanson.

• Monday, May 20th: Oakley Baker, Kaye Schember Cady, Laureen Hohansee, Kathy Hanson, Hannah Ashton, Carrie Thorstenson, Penny Nordhorn, Haley Collins, Scott Stohr, Kevin Peterson, Kent Lageson, Josh Kelly, Virginia Jensen, Cynthia Butler, Jay & Marsha Neitzel, Ed & Camille Nelson, Hannah Ashton, Adam & Kristen Arends.

• Tuesday, May 21st: Tony Dodge, Christopher Flim, Tom Wilker, Joel Cooper, Ryan Parks, William & Marvel Beiser.

• Wednesday, May 22nd: David Eliason, Christine Thompson Krause, Lori Lembke, Scott Dirksen, Pat Horan, Mark Christensen, Jim Obermoller, Michael Sarver, Roger Thompson, Andrew Grunwald, Karla Hanson, Dick Swift, Chuck & Susan Grubish, Toni and James Perschbacker.

• Thursday, May 23rd: Stephane Paul Martin, her 4th; Will Richard Utpadel, his 6th: Ilsbeth Wayne, Jeanne Simonson, Melissa Shaunce, Burton Borchert, Orville Langlie, Karen Quam, Rodney & Peggy Sorenson, Duane & Janice Morreim, Jeff & Sara Miller, Rebecca & Tim Brekke.

• Friday, May 24th: David Christensen, Marlyn Swearingen, Reta Draayer, Nina Widlund.

Celebrating with you as you mark another year. Hoping that your day is filled with family, friends and cheer!

I received this comment on Roger Bannister in an e-mail. It opened my thoughts and eyes to many possibilities of things I would like to achieve. I hope it does the same for you.

There has to be something you've always wanted to be able to do. It is in your capabilities to do it, but you have to clear away any doubts that cloud your vision in wanting to try.

After finishing fourth, just out of medal contention in the 1500 meters of the 1952 Olympics, British track athlete Roger Bannister set a new goal. A goal that according to many was not only lofty, but also humanly impossible.

At the time, no one had ever run a sub-4 minute mile. No one. In fact, many so-called authorities said it simply couldn’t be done. But Roger didn’t seem to care. His goal was to break 4 minutes, and in a 1954 meet at Oxford, he did just that.

Since that time, thousands of track athletes have run the mile in less than 4 minutes, and what’s most interesting is that the sub-4 minute times came rolling in almost immediately after Roger first accomplished it.

Why then had no one ever accomplished it before?

For years and years, no one, not a single person, was able to do it. Was it because they lacked ability? We don’t think so. Nothing magical happened in 1954 to make human beings instantly faster.

You see, the limitation was 100% mental.

And it took someone like Roger, who didn’t pay attention to what others thought was possible or impossible to remove that limit.

With that mental block removed, in came an influx of sub-4 minute times.

In more recent years, no one thought that a 6'5" lanky sprinter could ever be a true Olympic competitor (sprinters are naturally short and stocky). But although he didn't fit the typical sprinter build, Jamaican Usain Bolt set his mind on being an Olympic Champion at a young age.

And in the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, Bolt not only accomplished his dream of winning Olympic gold, he did it while completely annihilating world records in both the 100 and 200 meters. And again he reigned #1 in 2012.

Stories like this really inspire me, because they remind me that truly anything is possible.

Sometimes we are surrounded by so much negativity with the people around us placing limits on what we can accomplish, achieve, or be.

You may be someone who has always struggled with your identity and ability, and maybe even your family has a long history of negative thinking. You don’t have to buy into that. 

Break the mold. Remove the limitations — those that others have tried to place on you, and most importantly, those you’ve placed on yourself.

I dare you. See what happens.

The fact is this: You are special. There is greatness inside of you. Wherever you are at, you can achieve more. A LOT more.

And here's another truth: the limitations that others have placed on you can only become reality if you believe them, too.

Are self-limiting beliefs holding YOU back from achieving your best? Or even going after your best?

Don't let it happen. You're better than that. You're bigger than that. And you can achieve more.

It's your turn to believe in yourself.

Today marks the day where you can start thinking like Roger Bannister and Usain Bolt, Carlie Wagner, Maxine Anderson and Jim Hanson.

You are in control of what you can and will achieve...no one else is. Think of what you want to achieve.

Now believe it's possible, because it is.

Get started toward the "impossible" today. You can do it. I believe in you. You are extraordinary. Believe it.

Here are some examples:

An outdoorsman wrote often about the natural environment around him, but he always wanted to write a book. Something held him back until a little hoot turned him on and in his mind he said, "Hey, I can do this, and he did."

A grade school teacher had extra ordinary interest in history. It was so strong she went so far as to share stories she had heard of WWI with her students. Little did she know she stirred interest in the most crucial battles of the war and in the process, motivated at least one of her students to study and look into the authenticity of those stories.

The student went to great lengths to prove the teachers stories not only true but also rich in unbelievable quality. She motivated others to learn "the rest of the story" and opened doors to real historic actions beyond anything remotely popular in fiction.

And another. If anyone had told her in high school she could see California, Alaska, Ireland and Hawaii she probably would have thought, "Yeah, in my wildest dreams." However, the thought was planted. 

She wouldn't believe she could run/walk a 26.2 marathon either, but she did not do it just once, but many times. It was difficult to achieve, but her mind set was strong enough to make it a goal and she did it.

And yet another regarding my cousin, Jim Hanson. His desire was to fly. He asked his parents. 

Yes, he could take flying lessons if he had the money and time. The desire was there and so strong he rode bike to the airport, where he mowed the grounds and took lessons. He peddled newspapers, mowed lawns with one goal in mind.

Fifty years ago, on his 16th birthday, the kid without a car license realized his dream. He "soloed" and accomplished his goal to fly an airplane and receive his pilot’s license. He achieved his goal because he didn't quit. He didn't give in to negative thoughts.

We must believe we are gifted for something and that this thing can be attained by determination, perseverance and hard work. 

"Ordinary people believe only in the possible. Extraordinary people visualize not what is possible or probable, but rather what is impossible. And by visualizing the impossible, they begin to see it as possible." —Cherie Carter-Scott

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family and school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, and birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. If you have news, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, May 9th: Elli Pearl Baker, Aidan Jeffrey Schlaak, his 6th; John Jensen, Sue Pence, Jake Simmons, Julie Haroldson, Sue Hohansee, Audrey Horan, Karol Carroll, Nijole Aaseth, Rachelle Doran, Carolyn Greer, Karla Kelly, Jerry Westrum, Jill (Ottesen) & Cam Kehne.

• Friday, May 10th: Tari (Walterman) Erickson, Ryan Callahan, Tina Nelson, Steve Nielsen, Christine Ingvaldson, Dave Oeljenbrun, Mary Wilker, Brody Johnson, Mark & Sara Misgen, Rande & Jamie Nelson.

• Saturday, May 11th: Michaela Ann Hanielton, Jaxon Edward Beavens and Parker Reese Beavens, their 7th; Carol Cromwell Cox, Ed Haberman, Krista Hanson, Troy Janka, Daniel Robertson, Robert Vaith, Loretta Schewe, Scott & Shannon Pacholl.

• Sunday, May 12th: Everal Lageson, Richie Robinson, Dorothy Jensen, Larry & Jean Klocek.

• Monday, May 13th: Brooklyn Christine DuBois, her 10th; David Richards, Rose Glienke, Troy Donahue, Curt Esplan, John Nechanicky, Holly Pence, Tracy Swearingen, Larry Schmidt, Reed Thostenson, Rose Glienke, Alan & Kathy Knudson, John & Barbara.

• Tuesday, May 14th: Clair Dahl, Linda Olson, Anna Mae Peterson, her 8th; Katie Peterson, Ginger Thompson, Bruce Waage, Brad Wayne, Judy VerHey, Mark VerHey, Jeff Christensen, Shannon Krikava.

• Wednesday, May 15th: Carter Hagen, Evan Dobberstein, Megan Grubish, Alex Wayne, Mark Flesche, Dan Hagen, Don Hagen, Nicole Strand Harris, Stephanie Krueger, Neil Berg, Sandy Jensen, Marsha Neitzell, Tammy Thompson, Brett & Jessica Richards, Ralph & Irene Krueger, Jon & Nicole Farr.

Here's hoping that your special day brings you laughter, a light heart and much love.