Sartell Grad Who Flew 200 Combat Missions to Headline Veterans Day Assembly

(KNSI) – Sartell Middle School students will honor area veterans Wednesday morning with a Veterans Day assembly headlined by a Sartell High School graduate who flew over 200 combat missions in Army helicopters.

The assembly begins at 9:30 a.m. on November 11th in the middle school’s main gym.

The keynote speaker is retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ryan Czarnetzki, a 2001 Sartell High School graduate who grew up near St. Stephen. Czarnetzki enlisted in the Minnesota Air National Guard in 2004 during his junior year at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. He later moved into Army aviation, attending flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama, in 2008. He deployed three times in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Over a 22-year military career, Czarnetzki flew several aircraft, including the CH-47 Chinook helicopter, and served as a pilot, instructor, and tactical operations officer.

Czarnetzki will also be honored during the ceremony with a handmade quilt from Quilts of Valor, a national group that presents quilts to service members and veterans.

Members of the Sartell American Legion will present the colors, and the Sartell High School band and choir will perform patriotic music.

Several local leaders are expected to attend, including Rep. Tim O’Driscoll, Stearns County Commissioner Joe Perske, Sartell Mayor Ryan Fitzthum and St. Stephen Mayor Lisa Marvin.

Sartell-St. Stephen Superintendent Dr. Michael Rivard, who spent six years in the U.S. Army Reserves, will also take part.

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