Written for the High Plains Journal
Man March 2024 has only just begun; it is not complete. While the events we planned for last weekend have come and gone, everyone that attended or participated realized that we are only setting the stage for what we need to get done. We need to bring back the strength and importance of a man in today’s society. We need men, as seen in the eyes of God, to be the protector of the family unit and not be reluctant to take a stand in any and all ways required to get the job done.
If you are just hearing about these events, the first Man March actually took place on Oct 10, 2022 in Mandan, ND. I recognized that there was a parade, a demonstration or a march for everything except the need for strong, masculine men like those who were willing to fight for freedom in 1776. We encouraged all men and women to come to Mandan and march nearly a mile through the town to a church where we had a program with nearly 200 people in attendance. The inspiration from that day is still felt by all who attended that event.
During the summer of 2024, there was a growing demand for another Man March. I agreed with the need and went to work creating a very different kind of Man March but one that shared the sentiment of the first. We planned for three days of activities in 3 different locations, mostly to represent the holy trinity. I also decided to hold the events in the Cathedral of Creation, that being the great outdoors. There were no church buildings, but we created the church where “two or more would gather”. While many folks had concerns about the weather, I knew the Good Lord would provide and we hit a home run.
While the attendance at each event was much smaller than 2022, I felt like our mission was accomplished each time but in very different ways.
Our first stop was near Hot Springs, SD on a 10-acre piece of property that has been donated to the Veterans Helping Hands Project by Vietnam Veteran Don Ackerman. We had a high percentage of the attendees that were veterans. Our opportunity to share this project rollout was quite amazing. The ultimate goal of the Helping Hands Project is to work in collaboration with the local VA in Hot Springs to create a skills development center where veterans can learn everything from meat cutting to construction or auto mechanics to everything you can imagine. This will provide a skill set and the confidence to truly benefit especially the struggling veterans of this nation.
The next stop was Medora, my favorite destination in the Badlands of North Dakota. The history of the small town of Medora with the influence of three men who made it what it is today truly became the driving force of this event. Pre-1900, both Marquies de Mores’ and Theadore Roosevelt owned and operated ranches in this rough area of the nation. Not only did that shape so much of the future of the country in the conversation tactics that Roosevelt learned by owning a ranch, but the Marquies actually envisioned the refrigerated rail car which would eventually come to revolutionize the entire food business. It is worth noting that this idea was stolen from him by the Chicago meat packing machine but it was his vision that actually brought it into being.
The third man was Harold Schafer who actually kept this community of less than 200 people alive through the 1960’s and enabled it to become everything it is today. At this particular event, we still had the presence of the Veterans and we want to thank the Dickison American Legion Matthew Brew Post 3 for the presentation of the colors. Additionally, one of the local speakers, 22-year old Mitch Stuber from Bowman, ND, spoke about how young men are struggling to find the needed role models in the wrong place.
Our third and final event was in Bismarck at Keelboat Park on the Missouri River. The local speaker that truly set the stage here was Shannon Dean. My long-time friend told the story about how he was lucky enough to know his lifelong hero. That hero was a Vietnam Veteran that died of cancer from agent orange on May 9, 2021 and Shannon was fortunate enough to call Odin Tollefson his Dad. That certainly directed the entire conversation toward the importance of a strong father in the family unit and in the parenting of children. I too shared many stories of my father and his strong influence on my life. It wasn’t until later in the day that I realized this event took place on the day my father, Larry Lee Loos, would have turned 81.
In closing, I must say thank you in a huge way to the core crew that dropped everything to come and make this event life-changing. My dear friend Kevin Jenkins from Newark, NJ, who traveled this country with me in the Faith, Family and Freedom tour, really spoke to how men of all colors are tired of being demonized and seeking the truth. Pastor Jeff Weiss from East Tennessee certainly brought home the reason to find your identity in not only the flag of freedom but in the cross that Jesus was willing to die on for your sins. His message was about seeking your true identity and finding that “Free Indeed” place.
In closing, I think you can tell that this is not the conclusion of this movement but only the second chapter in the truest Celebration of Life from the Cathedral of Creation. Praise God for strong men and let’s work to make many more.