Dr. Bob Uppgaard resident of Ideal Township was recognized on the front page of the Pine and Lakes Echo for his participation as the guest speaker in this years Pequot Lakes High School Veterans Day program on November 12th with a special emphasis on honoring those who were deployed during WW ll and witnessed D-Day. Bob, now 95, graciously spoke to the crowd and directly spoke to the youth about his experience as a U.S. Navy Seabee sharing his personal photos from his two cameras, drawings and a diary written on the only paper on the ship at that time British toilet paper.

He spoke of his service along with the seriousness of deciding to serve in the military regarding the purpose, following orders, and managing the stress under difficult conditions. He encouraged the next generation by sharing his own life lessons of learning to listen, If you see something that needs to be done-Do it, and to always search for better ways to do anything. His advice for them among others was to focus on their best talents, become a creative thinker, to take the time to develop reading and writing skills with a clear goal in mind.  He looked to the students and spoke the Seabee Motto: The difficult do immediately….The impossible takes a little longer.

The crowd respectfully stood giving him a standing ovation honoring his service in WW ll.

Read more in the Pine and Lakes Echo Thursday, November 15, 2018 edition and see video footage.