To the editor:

On Saturday, May 2, New Ulm hosted a Memorial Tribute Program honoring New Ulm native and Medal of Honor winner Captain Willibald Bianchi.  Over 500 people were in attendance at the new National Guard Readiness Center.  

As most of you know, the remains of Capt. Bianchi were identified in 2025 through advanced DNA testing and recently returned to New Ulm 85 years after he left for World War II.   

The memorial was made especially meaningful by remarks from Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Timothy Usset, VFW Commander Tom Roesch, Mayor Kathleen Backer, US Senator Amy Klobuchar, Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, New Ulm native Joe Hoelz of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, his colleague Forensic Anthropologist Dr. Carrie LeGarde, Commissioner of the MN Veterans Affairs Brad Lindsay, and Dr. Kim Mitchell, Chief of Staff of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. 

Each speaker added depth and meaning to help tell the story of a true American hero.  You will be able to watch the ceremony on NUCAT.  Furthermore, stop by and view the impressive Bianchi display at the Brown County Historical Society.

Medal of Honor winner Willibald Bianchi deserves to be remembered and New Ulm rose to that responsibility beautifully. The Bianchi family members and military officials I spoke to were awed and humbled by the support from both Veterans and non-Veterans.

Yet, events like this do not happen by accident. Brown County Veterans Affairs officer Greg Peterson and everyone involved deserve special recognition for helping make this program so meaningful and memorable. Additionally, I want to also thank our good friends at the New Ulm Journal, KNUJ, and NUCAT for their outstanding work in covering the Bianchi Homecoming over the past few weeks.

God bless America,

Mark Santelman

Winthrop