Close Menu
Eden Prairie Local News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Friday, May 23
    • About
      • About EPLN
      • Team
      • EPLN in the News
      • Policies
    • Contact
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Threads LinkedIn
    Subscribe
    Eden Prairie Local News
    • Home
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Public Safety
    • City
    • Calendar
    • Subscribe
    • Donate
    • More
      • Construction
      • Outdoors
      • Politics
      • Health
      • Spirituality
      • Community Service
      • Legacy
      • Obituaries
      • Arts
      • Family
      • Holidays
      • Letter to Editor
      • Listen
      • Jobs
    Eden Prairie Local News
    Home»City of Eden Prairie»‘We all have a responsibility’
    City of Eden Prairie

    ‘We all have a responsibility’

    WWII veteran Jim Rasmussen to keynote Eden Prairie Memorial Day ceremony
    Stuart SudakBy Stuart SudakMay 24, 20243 Mins Read
    Veterans stand for recognition during last year's Eden Prairie Memorial Day ceremony. File photo by Gretchen Haynes

    First Lt. James Rasmussen just turned 100 a couple of months ago.

    First. Lt. James Rasmussen

    “The 17th of January,” he said.

    For a centenarian, Rasmussen says he doing just fine. “I had one bad bout with pneumonia and whatnot a couple of months ago,” said the Edina resident. “But that’s all cleared up now.”

    Rasmussen will be the keynote speaker at this year’s Eden Prairie Memorial Day ceremony, which takes place from 11 a.m. to noon on Monday, May 27, at the Veterans Memorial in Purgatory Creek Park.

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn McReavy

    The ceremony honors those who served and sacrificed for the country and will feature patriotic music from the Eden Prairie Community Band and local singer Julie Tuck.

    Rasmussen, a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, served as a navigator in the 349th Squadron of the 100th Bomb Group during World War II. He flew 32 missions with the “Bloody 100th” Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force, facing some of the war’s most intense conflicts.

    First Lt. James Rasmussen holds a group photo during a 2019 reunion of the 100th Bomb Group. Source: 100th Bomb Group Foundation

    The 100th Bomb Group was recently highlighted in the Apple TV+ mini-series “Masters of the Air.” Produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman, the series dramatizes the perilous bombing missions over Nazi Germany and the significant psychological toll on the airmen.

    “Give them the idea that we all have a responsibility to carry on for what the other soldiers sacrificed for the country,” he said, summarizing the essence of what he plans to say in Eden Prairie on Monday.

    Though he now needs a cane or walker for mobility and has limited vision, Rasmussen’s spirit remains strong. Later this month, he will join 70 other World War II veterans on an Honor Flight to France, sponsored by American Airlines. This trip commemorates the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. The veterans will spend two days in Paris before traveling to Normandy for commemorative events, culminating in a June 6 ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery.

    “The last time I was there was in 2019,” Rasmussen recalled. “We’ll be on the beaches of Normandy where the invasion took place and then at the cemetery to commemorate the invasion.”

    This journey, both a return to a significant chapter in his past and a moment of profound respect, will allow Rasmussen to honor those who served alongside him.

    “That’s one of the humbling things about being one of the few remaining veterans left,” Rasmussen reflected. “I get more recognition than I feel I deserve.”

    For more information on honoring the veterans of Eden Prairie, visit the city’s website.

    Comments
    We offer several ways for our readers to provide feedback. Your comments are welcome on our social media posts (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn). We also encourage Letters to the Editor; submission guidelines can be found on our Contact Us page. If you believe this story has an error or you would like to get in touch with the author, please connect with us.

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleEden Prairie’s trap team is a small part of a growing sport
    Next Article Optimist Kids 5K Fun Run/Walk returns Aug. 10

    More to READ

    10 Mins Read

    Getting where you need to go – with less driving

    May 8, 2025
    6 Mins Read

    Eden Prairie Schools’ centennial bash wins heritage honor

    May 8, 2025
    6 Mins Read

    Where does the recycling go?

    April 30, 2025
    Subscribe to get EPLN in your inbox for FREE!
    Recent Articles

    How Minnesota girls changed the game

    May 22, 2025

    Nominees sought for Eden Prairie Schools Hall of Fame

    May 22, 2025

    The Minnesota Legislature never really adjourned. It just went behind closed doors

    May 22, 2025

    What’s inside GOP U.S. House’s $3.8 trillion tax and spending plan

    May 22, 2025

    ‘Fountain of Youth’ is fool’s gold

    May 22, 2025
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    INN Network Member Guidestar Seal
    Eden Prairie Local News is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 85-4248265 | Copyright © 2020-2025
    • About
    • Policies
    • Jobs
    • Contact
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Donate

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.