Letters to the editor

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Family legacy

In the Fall 2024 issue, I was elated that John Phelan wrote an article about the 2nd Minnesota. My Norwegian immigrant great-great grandfather Even, his teenage son, and his brother all served in the 2nd Minnesota [Infantry Regiment]. My great-great grandmother Gurie, like most of the wives of Civil War soldiers, tended the farm, the businesses, and the children while the men went to war.  

Even marched with Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman to the sea, which is referenced in An Illustrated History of Yellow Medicine County Minnesota by Arthur P. Rose and in A History of Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota 1872-1972, by Carl and Amy Narvestad. While Even was fighting in the South, Gurie cared for their seven minor children, ages three to 15. She had 12 children who survived infancy.  

Even, at age 39, was mustered into the Civil War at Ft. Snelling to join the 2nd Minnesota Infantry Regiment, Co E. His son Knute, age 17, and Even’s brother Andreas were mustered into the same regiment. Knute enlisted after being paid to “substitute” for another draftee. As veterans, Even and Knute are honored on obelisks outside the county courthouse in Granite Falls, Minn.  

My husband and I are avid readers of Thinking Minnesota. We read the magazine cover to cover. 

Sandra Bestland
Vadnais Heights, Minn.

Fathers for education

The book reviewed by Catrin Wigfall never mentioned the biggest contributing factor to our failing schools, which may not have been covered in Dr. Garrett’s book. That is the lack of fathers in the family. With the national illegitimacy rate in the black community at 70 percent and the white at 28 percent, those fatherless children lack the necessary values only a father can bestow. These values include respect for authority, personal responsibility and accountability, education, discipline, honesty, and work ethic.  

If a legitimate high school diploma was strictly required to receive all government benefits throughout one’s life, school problems would disappear. 

Tom Mader
Circle Pines, Minn.

Leadership fail

I see in the Fall 2024 issue of Thinking Minnesota that the phrase “Under Walz’s leadership” is used more than once. However, the phrase should have been “Under Walz’s non-leadership.” Keep up the great work exposing liberal ideas that aren’t working. As Pres. Ronald Reagan used to joke, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” 

Ron Wood
Waseca, Minn.