When state funding to provide bronze star grave markers to veterans dried up, a business in Alexandria, Minnesota, stepped up to honor those who served in multiple ways.
Along with donating new stars, Douglas Machine programmer Adam Baumann crafted a fresh design for the stars, cut by a laser from stainless steel. The updated design features crossed rifles for veterans who served on land, and an anchor for Navy and Coast Guard members. The letters F, C and L are cut through the steel, signifying fraternity, charity and loyalty. The design was inspired by a badge worn by members of the Civil War Grand Army of the Republic.
Along with Baumann, the project involved Douglas County Veteran Services Director Jake Turner, Vietnam War Army veteran Arvid Lotthammer, an Alexandria native, and Douglas Machine CNC machinist Jon Stepan.
The drive to obtain new grave markers began in late 2018 when Lotthammer requested $10,000 from the Douglas County Board of Commissioners to be given to the county’s veteran services organization to replace the stars.
Lotthammer believed honoring all deceased veterans properly was important, and the county should provide funding.
Project Proves Costly
For years, Turner and Lotthammer talked about how many of the old stars had disappeared, due mostly to theft, weather, and lawnmower damage. When they realized how much replacing the stars would cost, and that county and state funding wouldn’t be enough, Lotthammer and Turner didn’t give up. They searched for different ways to purchase the stars.
Douglas County chipped in with $10,000, with the county veterans organization spending almost $2,000 per year to replace old, worn-out stars. State officials told Turner it could replace only stars for veterans “that had died the previous year.” Resources became limited, and Turner told the Alexandria Echo that he never received as many as needed.
“We’ve been purchasing them over the years through the same company that the state uses, but it was getting harder and harder to get them,” said Turner. “And then last year, we found out the state was putting the entire project on hold because of funding, and the stars weren’t going to be produced anymore.”
Turner said the stars, which included a rod for placing them into the ground, would cost about $50 each.
Disappointed with the state’s lack of help, Turner mentioned the issue at an Alexandria VFW meeting. Lotthammer was there and suggested to Turner that perhaps the stars could be made locally. Lotthammer connected with friend Roger Berglin, a retired welding shop instructor at a nearby college. Through Rick Froemming, a previous Douglas Machine employee, Berglin met Stepan, planting the seed for the manufacturer to land a hand.
Company Goes Extra Mile
Initially, Douglas Machine offered to produce the stars’ rods, but then Stepan found out how costly the bronze stars would be and thought of other ways his company could help.
“That is when I brought it to Adam (Baumann) to see what he could come up with (for the design). And Adam just knocked it out of the park as far as the detail,” said Stepan. “It turned out way better than any of us could have ever believed. Douglas Machine, with its 750 employees, has a strong support of law enforcement and our veterans.”
With the idea of helping veterans and supporting local causes, Stepan’s supervisor, Jason Olson, said he was all in. Machine shop supervisor Jason Stich gave his blessing, stating that Douglas Machine would donate all the work and materials.
Berglin and Turner loved the new design. So far, the company has produced more than 100 stars.
“The generosity of Douglas Machine to donate all this is incredible because it’s not only just the materials they are donating, but they are also donating the manpower to get them done,” said Turner.
“Because of Roger, Arvid, and Jon, we have a steady supply of these going into all the cemeteries around Douglas County.”
Lotthammer and Berglin have pitched in too, taking time to sandblast the stars.
Expanding
Stepan said the star-making project doesn’t have to be exclusive to Douglas County.
“If there are other counties that want schematics for the CAD design, Douglas Machine is willing to provide it for them,” he said.
While families have taken most of the stars home to be preserved over winter, Turner requests that they bring them back before Memorial Day, so each grave receives an American flag. Families can also reach out to Douglas County Veterans Services for more information.
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