Decorated Army colonel and Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah grad to keynote Veterans Day program, and more Sheboygan news in weekly dose
SHEBOYGAN - The community is invited to attend a Veterans Day program in the Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School gymnasium at 11 a.m. Nov. 11.
The high school band and chorus will perform a few selections for this event, which will also include speeches and poetry readings from high school students. Guest speaker for the program is U.S. Army Col. Strep R. “Dick” Kuehl.
Kuehl retired from the U.S. Army after 33 years of service. He is a graduate Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School and earned his undergraduate degree from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in political science. He holds two master’s degrees — one in management and the other in national security strategy.
He earned more than 20 major awards and decorations in his 33 years of service. He was an Army Ranger, an Army Master Parachutist, he spent many years in Special Operations within the airborne infantry communities, served two tours at the Pentagon with a three-year additional duty assignment at the White House as a social aide under President Bill Clinton.
Kuehl’s key command opportunities included commanding the 18th Personnel Services Battalion in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After three months of leading, training and readying his unit of 300 soldiers for war, his unit was selected as the first personnel and administration unit to deploy to Afghanistan after 9/11 in 2001.
Further assignments included director for Human Resources, United States Special Operations Command, and subsequently chief of staff for Special Operations Forces in the Joint Special Operations Command in Balad, Iraq.
As a result of Kuehl’s leadership and policy development between the military branches, the Marine Special Operations Command came into being and the Marines that serve in it are justly compensated for their more hazardous assignments.
Kuehl now resides with his wife, Dr. Paula Lutz, in North Carolina. He is the father of six children.
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▶ Sheboygan South to host Veterans Day program Nov. 10: Sheboygan South High School, 1240 Washington Ave., will partner with area veterans’ organizations to honor veterans who served in the armed forces at a Community Veterans Day Program Nov. 10 in the school’s Acuity Fieldhouse.
Doors will open to the public at 9:15 a.m. with the program scheduled for presentation at 9:45 a.m.
All veterans and community members are invited to attend the ceremony and take part in honoring area veterans.
▶ Holiday Lights Hunger Run/Walk Nov. 19 to benefit Food Bank: The Holiday Lights Hunger Run/Walk will be Nov. 19 at Sheboygan Jaycees Quarryview Center Area and Evergreen Park, 3401 Calumet Drive, Sheboygan.
Take steps against hunger through Making Spirits Bright’s holiday lights show at Evergreen Park before it opens to the public. All proceeds will support Sheboygan County Food Bank. In the first four years of the Hunger Run/Walk, about $15,000 has been raised.
Event highlights include an exclusive, on-foot “sneak peak” of Making Spirits Bright’s holiday lights displays; goody bags of giveaways from sponsors for the first 500 people who pick up packets; offsite parking shuttle service to and from the event; holiday treats and refreshments; a chance to meet with Santa in the Quarryview Center; and an award ceremony and after-party at 3 Sheeps Brewing after the 5K run (3 Sheeps will donate $1 to the Food Bank for every pint of beer sold that evening) with Cold Soda Club performing.
The 5K run costs $35 and starts at 4 p.m. and the 1-mile walk costs $30 and starts in two waves at 5 and 6 p.m., respectively, while all kids 12 and younger register for free. Long-sleeve shirts are available to purchase for $10 each during the registration process through Nov. 7 while a limited quantity of shirts will also be available for purchase on the day of the event, while supplies last.
To register or for more details, go to https://bit.ly/3DYkof5.
▶ Tickets on sale for HSHS St. Nicholas Foundation’s St. Nicholas Eve Gala: Tickets are on sale for the 25th annual St. Nicholas Eve Gala, hosted by the HSHS St. Nicholas Foundation. The gala will be Dec. 2 at The Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake.
The St. Nicholas Eve Gala raises money for HSHS St. Nicholas Foundation, the philanthropic, charitable arm of HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan.
Proceeds from the evening will support HSHS St. Nicholas’s Charity Care program, a special initiative to serve the most vulnerable patients in the community.
The St. Nicholas Eve Gala is inspired by St. Nicholas Eve — a celebration that inspires generosity and goodwill to all. It will feature hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, dinner, a program, and live music by Big Mouth & The Power Tool Horns. Dessert and a cash bar will also be featured. Semi-formal and formal attire is encouraged. The event begins at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased by visiting www.hshs.org/StNicholas/Events/Community-Events/St-Nicholas-Eve-Gala.
▶ Mark your calendar for Sheboygan’s Hmong New Year celebration: The Hmong Mutual Assistance Association of Sheboygan will present its Hmong Sheboygan New Year celebration Nov. 26-27 at North High School, 2926 N. 10th St., Sheboygan.
Tickets can be ordered by contacting Chue Minglana at 920-458-0808 or sheboyganhmaa@gmail.com.
Activities will include cultural events and food, a fashion show, a corn hole tournament, a ping pong tournament, vendors, the Miss Hmong Sheboygan Pageant, a dance competition and live entertainment at night from Peter & Cindy Band, Kalia Universe and Generation Boyz. More information is on the HMAA Facebook page.
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This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan Veterans Day events include decorated Army colonel, ELG grad
