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For the first time, the state of Minnesota’s Veterans Day program was held outside of the Twin Cities Tuesday, while elected officials thanked veterans for their service. During a politically charged time, some in the audience wondered why more wasn’t said about the federal government shutdown. 

The Mankato Armory was decorated with red, white and blue balloons, and a band from the Minnesota State University Mankato played patriotic music for about 100 people. Attendees included veterans, military families and elected officials.

Gov. Tim Walz thanked those who served and asked attendees to listen to veteran’s stories and preserve their legacies.

“The lesson that the Vietnam veterans and those that fought in World War II taught us, they were giving us a gift, and it's up to us what we do with that gift, how we conduct ourselves,” Walz said. “They laid down their lives so that we could govern freely.”

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar shared a story about Medal of Honor recipient: World War II U.S. Army Captain Willibald Charles Bianchi from New Ulm. More than 80 years after he was a prisoner of war, his remains were identified.

“This story reminds us that we can never fully repay what our veterans have given our nation,” Klobuchar said. “But, we can honor their service now. That means giving them what they deserve.”

And Republican Rep. Brad Finstad honored another veteran, 104-year-old World War II veteran Paul Wojahn.

“We celebrate your commitment, your love of your neighbors — your neighbors that you may have never met,” Finstad said. “Your love of country, and your commitment to serve that great country that you love.”

Both Klobuchar and Finstad spoke of their collaborative rapport, especially around veterans’ issues. 

“I don’t look at Amy and see a senator with a sweatshirt with a ‘D’ on it,” Finstad said. “She doesn’t look at me as a Republican member of Congress with a sweatshirt with an ‘R’ on it. We look at each other and we see U-S-A.”

Neither official talked directly about the government shutdown, which has pitted Democrats and Republicans against each other. A short-term government funding bill was passed mostly along party lines by the Senate, with 8 Democrats joining Republicans. The House will vote on it next.

Sergeant First Class Jeff Sather, 52, of Mankato, Minn., is an active duty U.S. Army Reserves member and is with the Combat Vets Motorcycle Association. Sather says both Democrats and Republicans need to work together more productively. He knows of many furloughed federal civilian workers who have been going without pay. 

“There’s a lot of people that live paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “A lot of people don't have that savings plan saved up to make it a couple weeks or a couple months,” said Sather. ”What are you gonna do with your family, your mortgage, all that stuff.”

Sather said he wants people to come together and get things done — his payday is this Friday, and he added if the shutdown doesn’t wrap up soon, he may not get his check. 

Meanwhile, other vets pointed out that the elected officials avoided discussing other contentious issues. 

Amber Mathwig, 43, is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a member of the group About Face Veterans Against War. 

Mathwig said she’s disappointed that the speakers did not address the mobilization of National Guard troops on domestic soil. In cities like Chicago and Portland, the guard has been deployed to help with immigration enforcement.

She also wished the elected officials had acknowledged how many people in the National Guard today are children of immigrant communities. 

“I hear a lot of congratulatory talk about war,” Mathwig said. “And I heard nothing about stopping, and turning back the militarization of our communities, which is often the result of a nation that is constantly at war and occupation with others.”

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At Minnesota’s Veterans Day event in Mankato, officials praised service members, but veterans voiced frustration that leaders avoided shutdown talk.

Officials honor veterans in Mankato as shutdown looms over ceremony

A veteran sits in a crowd for a Veterans Day event.

Hannah Yang | MPR News

A woman in fatigues and a cap talks to two men outdoors.

Officials honor veterans in Mankato as shutdown looms over ceremony

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