Stillwater, Minn. (June 25, 2024) -- VetsFest 2024 will be held at the Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter located at 8380 Lofton Avenue North in Stillwater, Minnesota, this weekend on June 29 and 30. Gates open at noon both days with music from 1-6pm and an honor flight as well as other activities. The event is free to attend.
On Saturday, June 29, the Pat McLaughlin Band will open the festival playing from 1-3pm, with Tim Sigler playing from 4-6pm. On Sunday, June 30, PK Mayo will play from 1-3pm, followed by a fly-over and landing of a Vietnam War era Huey helicopter. Winding up the festival on Sunday will be Blues Foundations Female Soul/Blues Singer Of The Year Annika Chambers performing with Canada’s Maple Blues Awards Entertainer of the Year Paul DeLauiers and their international award-winning band from 4-6pm. (Annika is a combat veteran who served two tours.)
The honor flight is curtsy of the Minnesota Vietnam Veteran’s Charity under the leadership of Jerry Kyser. The Huey was manufactured in 1962 and served in the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1967 as a slick with the 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion. After being shot down, it returned to Corpus Christi, TX, for remanufacturing and served at Fort Stewart (GA) and Fort Hunter (PA) for troop training. The Huey was then purchased by the State of Washington and used for search and rescue along with DNR activities before being acquired by Northwest Helicopters. Rented for movies, it made an appearance in “X-Men: Days Of Future Past” as well as numerous documentaries. It was then acquired by Dave Schmitz and Barry Hammerback to promote the Vietnam Era and raise veteran awareness. Over the past 8-years, the Huey has appeared at hundreds of events and won awards, such as the Oshgosh Air Show’s Best Helicopter and Judges Choice thanks to its civilian and service veteran volunteer crew whose maintenance is lead by Bob Drallmeier and Jerry Chapman. This Sunday, the chopper will be piloted by Sam Hamerback who will fly-over the happenings of the Gasthaus, and then landing for about an hour so the public may observe and directly interact with it. News media is invited to report on its landing and exhibition.
VetsFest is produced by Vets For Music, the non-profit’s mission is to positively impact communities’ veterans through the power of live music. The public is encouraged to attend this event to celebrate those who have bravely served our country at any time and in any branch of the service. Through music, the aim of this festival is to bring restoration for military veterans. As everyone raises their voice in song in this festival, social bonding and the confidence to interact freely is built with veterans helping to mend relationships where broken. It is amazing how music can effortlessly calm one down and enable a person to deal with even the most stressful situations.
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