Veterans Memorial Forest dedication moved to Jack E. Berger Memorial Park for April 26 ceremony

Pine County Forester Greg Beck told commissioners that the Veterans Memorial Forest dedication ceremony has been relocated to Jack E. Berger Memorial Park in Duquette because spring road conditions made the original forest site inaccessible for the expected crowd. The board had dedicated more than 36,200 acres of county forest lands as Memorial Forest lands in prior resolutions; last November the county dedicated those lands to military veterans.

Beck said the April 26 ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will include the American Legion presenting the colors, music from the East Central Eagles band, and a series of short remarks. He said commissioners Josh and Steve would make a small presentation related to a sign that will be installed across the county’s Memorial Forest lands; two Air Force veterans, Brad Jensen and Reese Robertson, will also take part in presentations.

Beck described the message planned for the sign: it will identify the lands as Pine County public land, designate them as Memorial Forest in honor of military veterans and invite visitors to reflect on service and sacrifice. He thanked Duquette Township for allowing use of Jack E. Berger Memorial Park for the ceremony and said signs and front signage would be posted for the event.

Why it matters: The relocation ensures the ceremony remains accessible and visible to attendees and preserves the county’s intent to publicly mark and remember veterans on county forest lands.

No board vote was required for the location change; Beck provided the notice and logistics update to commissioners.