Download a photo of Roger Millsaps.
Download a photo of the Dawson Bank Museum.
GRANITE FALLS, Minn. — Pioneer PBS’s Postcards program will feature two stories about the history and culture of Dawson along with a Lake Lillian WWII veteran story on Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m., Sunday, May 24 at 7 p.m. and Monday, May 25 at 1:30 p.m. The stories will also be available for online viewing through the station’s website: www.pioneer.org/postcards.
Since 1988, the community of Dawson has been honoring citizen leaders by making a 3-foot tall concrete gnome statue in their likeness and placing them in public spaces throughout the town. Ruth Solem and Sharilyn Bates tell the story of how “GnometownUSA” came to be and Loren Femrite gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the statues are made.
96-year-old Robert Millsaps, originally of Tennessee, now living in Lake Lillian, tells his story of service in WWII. From storming the beaches in Normandy to sleeping in foxholes and surviving bazooka attacks, Millsaps shares the harrowing story of his near misses with death. "War is hell," Millsaps says, “but survival is the most important.” Millsaps story was recorded at the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls.
The last story comes from Dennis Anderson of the Dawson Bank Museum who retells the story of a 1930’s bank robbery where bank employees were forced into the vault and almost suffocated. The Postcards team of Dana Conroy, Ben Dempcy and Kristofor Gieske reenact the role of bank robbers, adding color and drama to the story.
About Postcards
Postcards is produced by Dana Conroy with videography and editing by Kristofor Gieske and Ben Dempcy. The program is made possible by contributions from the voters of Minnesota through a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Production sponsors for the program include Shalom Hill Farm, Explore Alexandria Tourism and the Lake Region Arts Council.
About Pioneer PBS
Established in 1966, Pioneer PBS is an award-winning, viewer-supported television station dedicated to sharing local stories of the region with the world. For more information visit: www.pioneer.org.
