Inspirational veteran to address business-banquet guests

• John Kriesel, Army National Guard veteran

Veteran John Kriesel will be the guest speaker at the 2013 St. Croix County Economic Development Corporation banquet Feb. 21. Submitted photo

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The St. Croix County Economic Development Corporation holds its annual awards banquet Thursday, Feb. 21, at the R&D banquet hall, 1490 131st St., New Richmond, and invites all interested in attending to reply before Feb. 11.

Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. Later in the evening, the SCEDC presents several “of the year” awards. It announced this year’s honorees in January:

• Hudson Brewing Company in Hudson for emerging business

• NDT Solutions in New Richmond for small business

• Bosch Packaging Technology in New Richmond for the large-category business.

Dinner tickets cost $30 each, and guests can register either online at the SCEDC’s web site – www.stcroixedc.com – under the “About Us” tab – or by contacting Jacki Bradham at 715-381-4383 or jacki@stcroixedc.com.

Food selections include prime rib, spinach manicotti or wild rice and cranberry-stuffed chicken; attendees are asked to give their supper preference when registering.

Staff Sergeant John Kriesel, an Army National Guard veteran who was seriously wounded in Iraq during 2006, agreed to deliver the keynote address at the SCEDC banquet.

Kriesel lost his legs and two fellow soldiers as a result of a roadside bomb while on patrol near Fallujah. No one expected him to survive, but he endured 35 surgeries in four hospitals and months of recovery. Kriesel says losing the two friends hurt the most.

In July 2009, Kriesel and writer Jim Kosmo put his story into a book entitled, “Still Standing”. The two say the book tells the story of an ordinary man who overcame extraordinary challenges with the help of friends, family and total strangers to emerge stronger and more in love with his country, wife, children, and ultimately, his own life.

Kriesel inspires different groups through his speaking engagements, sharing a vision of hope for anyone who encounters personal crisis. The veteran serves as the Director of the Veteran Services office for Anoka County, Minn., and is a part-time host with KFAN Radio. He served one term in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2010-2012.

“Still Standing” has earned eight national book awards and will be available for sale at signing at the Feb. 21 banquet.

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