(Editor’s Note: The following information was submitted to the Patriot by friends of the Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Veterans Memorial. This is a re-run from our Aug. 27th edition.)
Becker’s own local memorial honoring fallen veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars is nearing completion. Mark and Linda Hoffmann returned this summer to create a book for visitors to look up and locate dog tags on the fence of fallen veterans. They also replaced tags originally hung five years ago as part of the ongoing maintenance process for the memorial.
History of Memorial
Mark served the United States in the Special Forces for 27 years and had three deployments in Iraq. Mark and Linda’s son served seven deployments in the Iraq and Afghan wars. Mark and his son lost soldier-friends and comrades in the wars. Linda said she did what military wives do while their spouses and adult children serve in war — she kept busy and prayed for the safe return of their serving family members and for the other brave men and women serving in the wars.
The Hoffmanns felt there was a need to create a memorial honoring the soldiers who lost their lives in the Iraq and Afghan wars. While Mark was in Iraq and their son in Afghanistan, Linda considered ways to honor the fallen veterans in these countries. She came up with the concept of making dog tags, one for every fallen soldier who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
After Mark retired from the military, the two searched the country for the perfect spot. That location turned out to be in Linda’s hometown of Becker.
Linda was raised in Becker. Her mom, Judy Peterson, taught at Becker High School. Her father, Harry Peterson, was a highway patrolman. In 1956 Harry and Judy started a Christmas tree farm off County Roads 23 and 16. Linda’s brother, Lee Peterson, continues to farm the land and added a U-pick apple orchard.
When Mark and Linda saw the beauty and quietness of the apple orchard, they knew the orchard fence was the perfect location for the memorial. The orchard fence represents protection to a peaceful place where trees grow to share their harvest. They realized they could hang on the orchard fence personalized dog tags honoring the lives of the thousands of soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice.
The apple orchard is under an acre in size, and its fence now holds more than 6,500 tags. Each stainless-steel tag was stamped by Mark, Linda, and other veteran volunteers having the name of a soldier, branch served, age at death, war in which the soldier died, and date of death.
The tags chime in the wind and their sound reminds us of the ultimate sacrifice made. Because the memorial resides in Minnesota, Mark and Linda chose to hang the tags for Minnesota veterans on the gate at the entrance to the apple orchard.
The memorial, named the Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Veterans Memorial, was dedicated August 24, 2019. At that time, a lovely cross was placed inside the apple orchard. A beautiful granite bench was made by a local friend and sits outside the fence providing a serene view to ponder the enormous sacrifice.
Mark and Linda currently reside in Vermont. They visit the Becker Iraq Afghan Veterans Memorial twice a year to maintain the tags and flags surrounding the orchard. The majority of the expenses have been consumed by Mark and Linda. (The reflection bench was donated.) They are currently creating a book that will show the exact location of every dog tag.
The memorial is open for viewing during the U-pick apple harvest and the cut-your own Christmas tree seasons. Guests should visit the LeePetersonTreeFarm.com website, Lee Peterson Tree Farm Facebook page, or call 612-423-3441 for dates and times. Alternatively, appointments can be made by calling the Hoffmann’s at 802-473-3502 or 802-473-0144. They may also be contacted regarding volunteer opportunities for the memorial.
The Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Veterans Memorial is a 501(c)3 non-profit. If one wishes to make a contribution or a matching donation, visit IraqAfghanVeteranMemorialMN.org.
