06/30/2009 1:30 PM -
ST. PAUL, MN (June 30, 2009) – They’ve helped to defend our freedom on the battlefield, on the front lines and behind the scenes. They’ve helped build the battleships, tanks, and fighter planes that established our military might. They’ve served as doctors and nurses caring for the wounded of every war in which our soldiers have fought. They’ve served in combat on many of the most important battles in our nation’s history. They haven’t, however, always received the recognition they deserve. On July 2, the St. Paul Saints and TDS Metrocom will honor Women in the Military, on a very special and unique evening at Midway Stadium.
Prior to the July 2 game the Saints will hold a pre-game ceremony honoring Minnesota women who have served in conflicts dating as far back as WWII and as recent as Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Saints will honor many women including Elizabeth Wall Strohfus, known as Betty Wall during her Army Air Force Days. Betty was one of just 1,000 American Women who flew military aircraft during WWII. The 85-year-old Fairbault native found out about the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots just after WWII started and was eager to join. 25,000 women volunteered at the time for the new, experimental program and only 1,800 were accepted. In the end just over 1,000 earned their wings, including Strohfus.
Strohfus continues her work today, speaking at schools, air shows and dozens of other places. She’s a member of the 8th Air Force Association, and an honorary member of that group’s historical society. She’s also a member of the Commemorative Air Force.
Florence Scholljegerdes, a nurse during WWII, will also be honored Thursday. Her patients during the war were sailors and marines wounded near Japan and the Phillipines, with broken bones and other eye, head and emotional injuries.
Fans will be treated to a flyover by a squadron of WWII fighter planes in a missing man formation. The aircraft will fly in a V formation with the flight leader at the point and the wingman following his left. The second-element leader follows on the flight leader’s right and his wingman follows on his right.
This is the fifth consecutive season the Saints and TDS Metrocom have partnered to honor heroes during their Independence Day Celebration. This Thursday, military members have received free tickets to the game courtesy of TDS Metrocom. Each of the last two seasons, the Independence Celebration has drawn over 9,000 fans to the ballpark. Following Thursday’s game, fans will enjoy an Independence Fireworks Show.
The Saints take on the Lincoln Saltdogs in a 7:05 p.m. contest with gates opening at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are still available and may be purchased by contacting the Saints box office at 651-644-6659 or visiting saintsbaseball.com.
The women scheduled to appear at the ballpark and the war(s) they served in are listed below:
Avis Schorer – WWII
Betty Strohfus – WWII
Nellie Karsten – WWII
Kate Woods – WWII
Georgene Knutson – WWII
Florence Scholljegerdes – WWII & Korea
Mary McGee – Korea
Judith Ayers – Korea
Shirley Merideth – Korea
Evelyn Hirshberger – Korea
Diane Cupples – Vietnam
Mary Lu Brunner – Vietnam
Kay Bauer – Vietnam
Julie Jenson – Vietnam
Joan Paulson – Vietnam
Jamie Bahl – Desert Storm
Paula Yessen – Dessert Storm
Gayle Herseth – Cold War
Jodi Bean – Iraq/Afghanistan
Jennifer Iveland – Iraq/Afghanistan
Brandi Wilson – Iraq/Afghanistan
Cynthia Rasmussen – Iraq/Afghanistan
Trista Mascastillo – Iraq/Afghanistan
