August 9th was a great day for the CCC in Minnesota. Through a proclamation from Governor Tim Pawlenty, August 9, 2007 was officially named Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy Day. It was a day of celebration, memories and of course a day to dedicate the “CCC Worker” statue to the 86,000 young men who served in the CCC in Minnesota.
 Nearly 200 people gathered at Gooseberry Falls State Park to attend the dedication ceremony. The event began with a welcome from Gooseberry Falls State Park Manager Paul Sundberg as well as some words from MCC Executive Director Len Price and Development Director Rolf Hagberg. Each CCC Alumnus represented in the audience was honored with the reading of their name by current Minnesota Conservation Corpsmembers, Luke Rumpca, Sarah Ellison and Anna Slinden.
In addition, the CCC Alumni and families of Alumni received a medallion to commemorate the day. For many this was a special moment. “Just about every one of the Alumni got choked up when they received their medallion,” remarked Monty Dehn Treasurer of the CCC Alumni Chapter 33, “It meant so much to them that people remembered their hard work.”
A variety of speakers shared their memories and praises of the CCC. Courtland Nelson, Director of MN DNR State Parks; Laurie Martinson, Deputy Commissioner of the MN DNR; Walter Atwood (pictured), President of the National Association of CCC Alumni; Monty Dehn, treasurer of CCC Alumni Ch. 33 and Harvey Richart, Vice-President of CCC Alumni Ch. 119.
The ceremony concluded with a sing along to “My Land and the CCC” by local folk musician Charlie McGuire. It was not only a memorable moment but a fitting tribute to the legacy of the CCC.
The day ended with a picnic and many stories. It was a chance for today’s Corpsmembers to learn from the CCC corpsmembers of the past. In the future, MCC youth and young adults will return to Gooseberry Falls State Park with their families and remember August 9, 2007 and the legacy of the CCC for generations come.
MCC would like to thank everyone who attended the event, all of the speakers as well as all of those who made this statue and event possible.
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The Summer Youth Program just wrapped up another great summer. All thirteen crews returned to the base camp in St. Croix State Park on Thursday, August 9th. That night the youth and staff held a talent show that included a variety of great acts from freestyle rapping and interpretive dance to a rendition of Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax. The last full day was dedicated to completing the necessary tasks to close St. John’s Landing down until another group of do-gooders comes to re-open it in the spring.
