From the desk of Representative Natalie Zeleznikar

Honoring Our Veterans and the Iron Range Legacy of Freedom

By Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar, Minnesota House District 3B

Dear Northlanders,

November is a month of Thanksgiving — a time to gather with loved ones, express gratitude, and honor the men and women who have served our country. Veterans Day, November 11th, was and is a special time to stop and reflect on what this day truly means for each of us.

My journey of caring for seniors began when I was just 16 years old, working as a nursing assistant. Little did I know that I would receive the greatest history lessons of my life — from those who wrote history and lived history. I listened to stories from veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. I cared for a senior whose father fought for Germany in World War I, while he himself fought for the United States in World War II. Others shared memories of the day their high schools emptied as young men volunteered to serve their country.

Many of these heroes were from the Iron Range, growing up surrounded by the mines that shaped both their livelihoods and our nation’s history. The Iron Range’s iron ore was a critical natural resource that helped the United States win World War II. Minnesota miners produced 70 percent of the iron ore used to make steel — steel that became tanks, ships, planes, weapons, and the infrastructure that powered victory.

While I learned many facts about World War II in school, little emphasis was placed on the importance of our state’s contribution — that without Minnesota miners producing the majority of the nation’s iron ore, America’s ability to win the war may have been in jeopardy. The men and women of Minnesota’s mines were the backbone of our industrial strength and, ultimately, our freedom.

Over the past 40 years, the seniors I cared for made sure I understood this truth: freedom is not free. It was built on the courage and sacrifice of those willing to give their lives for others. Our veterans are, truly, the definition of selfless.

During the 2025 legislative session, I was honored to support a bipartisan bill recognizing Hmong veterans who fought alongside American forces in Vietnam as members of special guerrilla units. When that bill passed, Hmong veterans filled the Minnesota House Chamber with heartfelt gratitude — a moment I will never forget.

This year marks the 250th anniversaries of both the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps. As we celebrate these milestones, may we each take time to thank the veterans and active-duty service members in our families and communities. May we never take for granted the freedoms we enjoy — freedoms secured by the bravery and sacrifice of so many before us.

Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar represents Minnesota House District 3B, including Hermantown, Proctor, Two Harbors, Rice Lake, Gary- New Duluth and surrounding townships