The story of a Deer Creek airman's heroic and tragic death is one of the thousands of World War II stories on the verge of vanishing from history.
But the name of Robert Haglund now lives on, in the hearts and minds of relatives in Minnesota; and also at a memorial in the Austrian Alps.
It's a story of history saved and preserved- in the nick of time. Nearly all of Haglund's immediate family is now gone.
A memorial to Haglund and the others aboard the B17 bomber was created near Kleins'lk, Austria.
The 20-year-old Army Air Corps sergeant graduated from Deer Creek in 1942, but several of his surviving relatives are Perham-area natives.
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The dedication ceremony in Austria in August was attended by Haglund's relatives, including Dan and Linda Boedigheimer, Patrick and Sheryl Boedigheimer and nine others with strong ties to Perham and East Otter Tail County. Dan and Linda are 1961 graduates of Perham High School. Pat graduated in 1964. Sheryl is a Pelican Rapids grad, in 1965.
Haglund's plane went down in 1944, and for more than 60 years, the Haglund family had no idea his remains were ever recovered--and that, in fact, his remains were buried in France. His oldest sister, (Mrs. Jack) Betty (Haglund) Boedigheimer, lived in Perham all of her adult life and died in 2004.
"It is really too bad she didn't have this same opportunity as the rest of us to visit this crash site and memorial, but she was more than likely looking over us that day," said Patrick Boedigheimer.
Robert's only living sibling is Marge Tetens, Circle Pines. She was only 14 when her brother Robert was killed.
In Austria, at the dedication, Marge said Robert was "right next to our hearts that day."
"The gorgeous valley they died near was just stunning, even though it was raining on our beautiful day," said Patrick. "My cousin and Marge's daughter Diane Tetens said, 'it's raining tears from heaven."
For Marge, 79, this is the first connection she has had with her brother Robert in nearly 64 years.
It was originally planned for the Austrian Army to escort Marge in a helicopter, up to the very top of the mountain for a fly-over to show her exactly where Robert died--but rainy weather would not permit it. The Austrian Army had been practicing the fly-over the day before, said Patrick Boedigheimer.
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"That was too bad they could not make the flight. Every one of us was looking forward to her doing that," he added.
"This was one of the most moving experiences of my life. Here is our brother and uncle that most of us never had the opportunity to meet," said Pat Boedigheimer. "I wouldn't trade the opportunity of being there for anything."
"It feels like Robert is right here next to my heart," said Marge at the dedication.
