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Capt. Bianchi receives long overdue welcome home

After over 80 years, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient and New Ulm native Capt. Willibald Charles Bianchi has returned home. Bianchi was awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery and valor above and beyond the call of duty for his heroic actions in Bataan, Philippine Islands during WWII. Unfortunately, before Bianchi could receive the award, he was captured by Japanese forces and held as a prisoner of war. He was aboard a Japanese POW ship when an American aircraft bombed the ship, killing Bianchi. For decades, his remains were unidentified and his family assumed Bianchi would never truly be brought home. That all changed on August 2025 when it was announced Bianchi’s remains were positively identified through DNA analysis and he would be returned to New Ulm. Bianchi’s remains were flown into Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Friday afternoon. From the airport, his remains were escorted by members of the New Ulm Police, the 1st Battalion – 125th Field Artillery Regiment of the Minnesota Army National Guard, American Legion, Legion Riders, Brown County Veteran’s Services, Minnesota State Patrol, and the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. This is the long awaited welcome home for one New Ulm’s greatest heroes.

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United We Stand Players premiers ‘Boxes’ this weekend

Friday the original play “Boxes” premiered at the New Ulm Community Center. The play was created and performed by local theatre group the United We Stand Players (UWSP). The theatre group is an off-shoot of the national group People First, an international organization that serves as an advocacy group for disabled people. The play explores how people with disabilities sometimes feel “boxed in” or unseen for the full richness of who they are. This is a great idea for a play and wonderful way to give voice to a group of people often overlooked. The first performance of the play was Friday, but a second show will be held 2 p.m. today at the New Ulm Community Center.

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Expect to see students dressed to impressed

Saturday night is prom night in New Ulm with New Ulm High School (MVL) and Minnesota Valley Lutheran (MVL) holding their prom celebrations. NUHS prom will be held at the New Ulm High School gymnasium with the grand march starting at 7 p.m. MVL’s prom will be held at Turner Hall with the grand march starting at 7 p.m. The weather forecast for Saturday is expected to be rain free, meaning the public can expect to see many students dressed in their finest taking photos in New Ulm parks ahead of prom.