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(KNSI) – A large crowd of friends, colleagues and fellow soldiers gathered Thursday to rename the Avon post office after Warrant Officer Candidate Kort Plantenberg.

He was one of three Minnesota National Guard members killed in a helicopter crash in December 2019. Sargeant Major Shawn Schmidt remembered what it was like to serve alongside Plantenberg.

“He had an incredible drive to learn. That’s what I remember the most about Warrant Officer Candidate Plantenberg, and I just enjoyed my time working with him, especially when we were on deployment in Kuwait. Just because he’s just such a great person, a great soldier.”

Plantenberg was nicknamed DeWalt for his ability as a mechanic and was looking to transition to being a pilot. He was scheduled to start helicopter flight school before the crash.

Sergeant First Class Joseph Conlin says the loss left a huge hole. “That deployment to Kuwait was like a family. It was only a small company of 52 of us. We all gelled, and to lose three out of the 52…It’s extremely tough.”

Conlin says the group took months to come to grips with what had happened. He says to this day, they greet each other with hugs rather than handshakes.

Plantenberg’s civilian job was as a correctional officer at the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office. Several law enforcement members were in attendance for the ceremony.

Speaking during the event was Sixth District Congressman Tom Emmer, who sponsored the federal legislation to rename the facility. Avon was once represented by Emmer in Washington, D.C. but is now part of the 7th District. Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach also spoke. Avon mayor and pastor Jeff Manthe gave the invocation and concluding remarks.

The American Legion Post 482 Color Guard provided a rifle salute and gave a stirring rendition of Taps to officially dedicate the building.

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