Colonel Donald G. Patton '61 Will Receive 2016 Veterans' Voices Award

August 18, 2016—ST. PAUL, Minn — Minnesotans from across the state nominated Veterans who have honorably served and have shown exemplary community service to receive the 2016 Veterans’ Voices Award. From a host of nominees, 13 “On the Rise” Veterans (age 40 and under) and 12 “Legacy” Veterans (age 41 and over) were selected by a panel of their peers to receive the Veterans’ Voices Award.

This award ceremony is part of the Humanities Center’s Veterans’ Voices program that draws on the power of the humanities to call attention to the stories—which have often been missing—and contributions of Veterans. This program empowers all Minnesota Veterans to speak in their own voices through plays, art, and/or discussion groups, and to publicly acknowledge Veterans who are making an exceptional difference in their communities and throughout the state. 2016 Veterans’ Voices Awardee Colonel Donald G. Patton’s story follows:

Colonel Donald G. Patton (Legacy Award) is an Army Veteran from Edina who served in the U.S. Army for 30 years, which included 13 years in command positions with two battalion commands. He served as Commander of Unit as custodian of Nuclear Weapons for the French Air Force. After graduation from the Army War College in 1985, he organized, with Dr. Harold Deutsch, the WWII History Round Table, which includes oral histories from WWII Veterans. Since retiring as a Colonel, Don works tirelessly to preserve the factual history and study of WWII. Don’s work through the Round Table includes organizing and leading tours of European battlefields and American cemeteries to educate and pay tribute to American Veterans. The WWII History Round Table has organized over 300 programs that recognize, honor, and tell the stories of over 1,000 Veterans. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal five times during his military service. Recently, Don was awarded the Minnesota Superior Civilian Service Award by the Adjutant General of Minnesota for his work with the Round Table and raising awareness of Veterans’ contributions. He is currently serving on the Committee for Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

Awards will be presented at the Veterans’ Voices Award Ceremony on September 11, 2016 at the University of St. Thomas Anderson Student Center in St. Paul. Public and private sector achievements of 25 Minnesota Veterans (listed below) will be recognized. Gulf War Veteran and WCCO-TV reporter Reg Chapman will emcee. Past award presenters were Governor Mark Dayton and Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, Retired Major General Larry Shellito. This event is free and open to the public. The following Minnesota Veterans were recently selected to receive the 2016 Veterans’ Voices Award.

On the Rise Awardees
Kelsey Besse. Air Force and Air National Guard. Eagan; Jessica L. de Kozlowski. Air Force and Air Force Reserve. Edina; Jolaina Falkenstein. Army Reserve. Carver; Daniel Fanning. Army National Guard. Duluth; Josh Herman. Marine Corps. St. Paul; Christopher Jon Hvinden, Marine Corps. Little Canada; Lina Knox. MA. Army National Guard. Coon Rapids; David Peters. Marine Corps. Cottage Grove; Amanda J. Piersak. Air Force Reserve. St. Paul; Paul Riedner. Army. Minneapolis; Robert J. Rivera. Air Force. Edina; Jacob Thomas. Air Force and Air Force Reserve. Minneapolis; Mike Waldron. Marine Corps. Esko

Legacy Awardees
Bob Boone. Army National Guard. Cambridge; Matthew C.G. Boucher. Army National Guard. Ramsey; Brigadier General David Hamlar, Jr., M.D. Air Force. Inver Grove Heights; Fletcher Hinds. Marine Corps. Duluth; Louis J. King. Army. Lake Elmo; Gordon W. Kirk. Army. St. Paul; Sheila Pike Laughton. Air Force. Newport; Geraldine Longfellow. Army National Guard. Burnsville; Mathew M. Meyer, Esq. Marine Corps. Shakopee; Michael Mills. Army and Army National Guard. Freeport; Chibenesi, Dr. James Northrup. Marine Corps. Sawyer (In Memorium April 28, 1943 - August 1, 2016); Colonel Donald G. Patton. Army. Edina

Since 9/11/2001 tens of thousands of men and women from Minnesota have been deployed—many have returned home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These Veterans are our neighbors who defended the freedom of all Americans.

Read all 2016 awardee biographies. For more information on Veterans’ Voices and to register to attend the 2016 Veterans’ Voices Award Ceremony visit mnhum.org/vets.