Vennskap Lodge 5-622 Sheboygan Falls, Wi 53085 November 2009 Volume 17, Issue 8 Coming Attractions Col. Hans C. Heg Writes From the War “I have been in the Battle several times and seen a great many November 10th men killed, and the Rebels have shot at me too, but if you arc a Vennskap Meeting good girl and Edmund is a good boy, they will not hit me, but I First United Lutheran Church will come home again... 2401 Kohler Mem. Dr. I have got a nice warm tent, and I bought me a light stove yester- Sheboygan day for 5 dollars. I board together with the Doctor and am living Monthly meeting 7 PM well...My tent has been full every day and it is hard work to get a [chance) to write letters..I think we may have a Battle here before long, and if you are good November 15th children, God will let me come Gratulerer home again to you..” Lutefisk Dinner Med Dagen! City Streets Restaurant These words are excerpts from November Sheboygan letters written on the battle- Elliott Marti..(Heritage).....................5 Social Hour 1 PM field as the commander of Carolyn Bertram................................5 Dinner at 2 PM Rachael Loritz.(Heritage)..................7 Wisconsin 115th Division, Kelsey Pflieger.(Heritage).................9 Hans Christian Heg, wrote Fred Bruechert.................................10 reassuring notes to his children Ryan Jurgens.(Heritage)..................13 and wife, even though he was Norma Onsager................................17 suffering with the Norwegian Dave Dobbe.....................................20 Joanne Staalson-Vogt.......................21 battlegroup of Wisconsin. Heg Arthur Thomas.................................22 was later fatally wounded as Matthew Marti.(Heritage)................30 he led his Wisconsin soldiers against the Southern rebels in December the War Between The States. Dell Solberg.......................................6 His All-Norwegian battlegroup Dolcye Johnson.................................7 was fully comprised of volun- Hayley Solberg..(Heritage)................7 teers who fought bravely, led Joyce Loritz.......................................8 by a leader who would become Danielle Grotbeck..(Heritage)...........9 a legend, honored by several Oyvind Hanson................................11 Megan Solberg (Heritage)...............14 monuments and statues. Judith Block....................................15 Gordon Olson..................................18 Editor: Dell Solberg Shirley Moen...................................22 223 Hillcrest Ct Sheb Falls, Wi 53085 Dorothy Jurgens...............................31 ([email protected]) Happy Birthday! Fra Presidenten Dick Peterson Forty seven members and guests of our Vennskap Lodge heard a great Civil War presentation by Don and Laurie Shawhan. We always knew of the fighting skills of the Vikings, but now we are aware of the Norwegian and other Scandinavian men and women who served so gallantly during the Civil War. The stories by Don were well received and many questions were asked. The gown worn by Laurie was gorgeous. Thanks Don and Laurie for your program. Our Nominating Committee of Dolly Dickrell, Flare Fredricksen and Ginny Mikkelson presented their list of 2010 Lodge nominees. There is a name for every position. My sincere thanks to the committee and the Lodge members who have accepted the nominations. We will have our election at the Nov. 10 meeting in Sheboygan and look forward to another great year. Mikk had a good idea---that our November meeting should be before our Lutefisk Dinner on the 10th instead of the scheduled 17th. Everyone agreed with that idea. Thanks Mikk---gives us another night for needed planning. Sure do miss our monthly Norwegian lessons. Maybe sometime in the future our ‘celebrity bell ringer’ will show up with another lesson. See you at our November 10 meeting. God Bless! Dick At Our Next Meeting We will discuss simple ways to put your memories down on paper. Do you remember hearing tales about your Norwegian ancestors who braved their way to America? If you don’t preserve these stories, who will? Then, I will read my historical fiction narrative entitled PASSAGE HOME, which is based on facts and handed down stories about my great-grandparents, Johannes Nilsen Bjørlo and Oline Pedersdatter Bakke as they journeyed to America in 1871 from the Nordfjørd, which is in western Norway. Officers Present: Dick Peterson (President), Nan Webster (Vice President), Mary Ellen Peterson Sons of Norway, Vennskap Lodge (Serving as Secretary) and Social Director). Meeting Minutes: October 20, 2009 Guests in attendance: Bonnie Bur, Two Rivers, 7:00 p.m. First Lutheran Church Don Shawhan, Manitowoc and Bev Lee, Manitowoc Sheboygan. Proceedings: Meeting called to order by Dick Peterson at 7:00 p.m. Secretary’s minutes from last meeting are in by Mary Peterson the last newsletter. Treasurer’s report by Dollie Dickrell. Other Business: It was decided that the November meeting will be held in Sheboygan on November 10 instead of the usual third Tuesday of the month due to the date of the Lutefisk Dinner. Dell spoke on the upcoming Lutefisk Dinner. Sign up sheets were passed around for deserts and helpers Set up helpers to be there at 2 PM on Saturday. Bakery should be there by 12-1 PM the day of the dinner. Wine donations and other types of donations are desired for door prizes. Nominating Committee reported that all offices have been filled for the coming year. A Foundation bucket was sent around to the group for collections. A Barnebirkie letter was read and discussed. Ski for Light letter was read and discussed. Family Bowling Tournament must be planned soon. Discussion was held on the New Member Recruitment that the SON is starting. Open discussion. It was decided that instead of a librarian hauling the books around to meetings, that there will be a place for our books at United First Lutheran Church in Sheboygan. That would eliminate lifting and transporting. Books can be checked out there. Sonia spoke on the Script Program. Contributions from the Script program are given out at Christmas. Cards for Dec. and Christmas should be ordered now. Nan told that the History Channel presented information on the Kensington Rune Stone and that it was not factual, but more for entertainment of the audience. Signe is taking orders for the Norwegian Calanders next month. They are $8.00. Dolsey’s name was drawn for the attendance prize. She was not there. Next month it will be $10.00 Meeting Adjourned. Submitted by Mary Ellen Peterson “A-TEN- HUT!” “PORT-ARMS!” The Civil war, better known as The War Between The States was brought to life in living color, as Don Shawhan, known here as Sgt. Shawhan, shared his soldierly hobby. Don has been reliving the life of a civil war soldier for 18 years as he describes the scene while shouldering his musket and equipment. A famous leader in the war that began in 1861 was a Norwegian immigrant who served as a colonel and brigade commander in the Union army , while fighting against the Southern Rebels. Don shared his knowledge Don Shawhan as “Sgt. Shawhan” of this Wisconsin Norwegian War -hero with us. The 15th Wisconsin was called the Scandinavian Regiment, since its soldiers were almost all immi- grants from Norway, with some from Denmark and Sweden. It was the only all Scandinavian regi- ment in the Union Army. On October 8, 1862, Colonel Heg led his regiment into its first action at the Battle of Perryville. Despite being under fire while being driven back several miles by the enemy, the 15th Wisconsin suffered few casualties and no fatalities. However, one of those hurt was Colonel Heg, who was injured when his horse fell. Hans Heg,who “became the war hero of the Norwegians, became the personal symbol of their contribution to the preservation of the Union.” On September 19, 1863, Colonel Heg led his brigade at the Battle of Chickamauga, where he was mortally wounded. Brave Col. Heg, commanding a brigade, "was shot and died the next day." Upon hearing of Heg's death, Rosecrans expressed regret, saying he had intended to promote Heg to brigadier general. As it was, Colonel Heg was the highest-ranked Wisconsin soldier killed in combat during the Civil War. Col H.C. Heg Don’s wife, Laurie, is shown with her “Soldier- husband”, as she models her gown in the typical hoop skirted fashion. Thank you, Don for a very Laurie , a member of our informative and enjoyable lodge, sews and enjoys program! wearing dresses in the style worn in those war- years. ONL Y KIDS PAGE What could possibly happen in November?? This is a Scandinavian calendar stick, engraved Let’s check our primstav. with images instead of numbers or runes.. Most images are of important church events. Allehelgensdag or helgemesse ( All Saints Day) Nov 1 In memory of all saints and martyrs. Then, there’s Mortensmesse St. Martin was Bishop of Tours, France ( St. Martin’s Day) Nov 11 approx from 371-400. His sign was a goose. The custom of serving goose for mortensmesse dinner became common in the upper-levels of society of Scandinavia. The breastbone of the goose was used to predict the winter. If the bone had white specks, there would be snow. Brown specks meant a cold winter with little snow. If clear, the winter would be hard! Nov 23th was Klemetsmesse (Clement’s Mass) In memory of Clement I, Bishop of Rome, said to have died in 102. St. Clement was the third successor to St. Peter. He is remembered for a long letter written in the year 95 reprimanding the church at Corinth for its jealousies and quarrels. He was martyred by being thrown into the sea with an anchor around his neck. On this day all ships were to lie at anchor. Karimesse ( St. Catherine’s Day) Nov 25th In memory of the martyr of Alexanderia, killed in 305. This is a time to The symbol is unclear, start spinning.