by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
As a favor to a dear friend, eight buddies recently presented an Honor Cane to Bob Becker, a Sartell resident and Vietnam veteran.
Becker, the recipient of two Purple Hearts, was wounded twice while serving in Vietnam – once in the hand, once in the foot.
An Honor Cane is a handcarved cane with the head of an eagle on top. It’s given as a kind of ceremonial honor to any veteran who suffered wounds during military service. The program began in 2014 by an Oklahoma woodcarver named Jack Nitz, and it quickly caught on.
The cane was presented to him by his long-time buddies at a surprise presentation at the Sartell Senior Center.
Becker and his eight friends were all born and raised in Sartell, and five of them served in the military, the oldest being Rollie Weis, a World War II veteran. For many years, the eight have been meeting for coffee every Tuesday at 8 a.m., most recently at the Sartell Senior Connection Center.
The others in the group are Jan Bettenberg, Jim DeZurik, Lint Edgerly, Al Meier, Neal Pearson (who lives near Foley), Ron Hurd and Bill Smoley.
The buddies got together one day and decided Becker was due for an Honor Cane, so they applied to the program and were accepted. Becker thanked his buddies for the cane – honored and proud to have one from them.
Long-time friend and World War II veteran Rollie Weis (left) presents an Honor Cane to Vietnam veteran Bob Becker, who was wounded twice during service in Vietnam. The two men are among eight who were born and raised in Sartell who have been meeting every Tuesday morning for coffee and conversation for many years.
Vietnam veteran Bob Becker holds the Honor Cane he just received from a group of his long-time buddies. Becker, like his friends, was born and raised in Sartell.
