Mark your calendar, Captain Dan Days 2009 is coming.
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Captain Dan's Dream Team

Each year since May of 2002 Captain Dan Dream Team gets together at Lucan City Park to host a weekend of fun family activites, we play softball, volleyball, beanbag, dodgeball, basketball, host children’s activities,5oo balloon release to loved ones, full grill, beer wagon, concessions and of course there is music both days. We do this to celebrate life and to tribute all the things that Daniel Ourada enjoyed doing with his family and friends.

Daniel is the son of Terry and Laurie Ourada, brother of Andrea, Brandon, Michael and Dominic.
He was a 4th year student at SMSU in Marshall, MN and a wrestler for the Mustangs, wrestling at  157#.

On Dec. 28, 2001 while driving back to Marshall, where he lived, he was killed at a negligent bridge site near his home on a gravel road. The communities of SMSU, Lucan, Wabasso and Milroy as well as many surrounding communities and organizations rallied together to help the family in any way possible. The response was so overwhelming and there were so many requests of how can we help? Then Andy Ourada came forward with the idea to start a scholarship in Daniel’s memory at SMSU and the seed of Captain Dan Fun Days was planted. The rest is history as you will read.

Captain Dan Dream Team is comprised of a group of very dedicated family and friends who each Jan. meet to plan the next May’s events. Everyone volunteers their time, why do they do it, because they believe in this event and its cause, the camaraderie, the fun and just because we can… the proceeds have exceeded everyone’s expectations year after year the past 6 events and all monies are put back into the communities of the local area and organizations that Daniel was involved in. I, Laurie Ourada, call it my “celebration of life weekend.”

“Embrace Life”

“Hope sees the invisible, Feels the intangible, and Achieves the impossible”

~Helen Keller

Each year I choose a quote or theme for our Captain Dan Days event, I pondered long and hard on which quote I feel is the focal point I want to make this event. After sharing several with my family, we chose the above and then submitted to Coach John Sterner to come up with a design to fit the quote, and he of course created a beautiful eagle design with full wing span. We used his design with the quote on our shirts and hoodies and even had an embroidered patch made with the design. It has been said to me several times over that we put a lot of heart into our event!! We do work really hard to try to make this a special event, maybe even like a family reunion of sorts and it is working, there are many families who come and spend the entire two days here, we try to cater to the young kids and family and have fun music and games going on at random times throughout the park. It has been stated that we pay attention to detail, I believe that if we touch just one more family or individual at our event and make them feel good or special then it is well worth all the effort put forth. My dad always told me,

” What goes around comes around ” My family has been blessed ten thousand times over with the love and support of family, friends and community after our son Daniel was killed at that ugly bridge site.

Then our daughter was deployed to Iraq as a Blackhawk pilot and again we were surrounded by love and support all through her deployment and the welcome home ceremony….

A soldier this weekend came up to me and thanked me for welcoming her home, she had served in Iraq and when she came home wasn’t met at the airport by family or friends, her job wasn’t waiting for her and she had no place to call home, her husband had left her and  this was her first Captain Dan event, this was the first time she witnessed a Patriot Guard Rider stand flag line, she broke into tears and stated, “I just need to hear that someone appreciated what I did” I told her I appreciated her and then I shook her hand and looking directly into her eyes said, “thank you and welcome home”.

Another story I want to share with you is of when our daughter came home from Iraq this past July of 08. She did not come home with the main body of soldiers as planned, she learned of several soldiers who needed to get home and there were no seats left on aircraft, so she and several other soldiers from her battalion gave up their seats, only to leave a week later to return home to America. The main body of soldiers received a large welcome home, PGR flag line, TV coverage, journalists everywhere as it well should be. When the small group returned behind the main body, it was a small welcome home, PGR flag line, mostly family waiting impatiently at the gates for their soldiers. But what will forever stand out in my mind is of one lone soldier still standing on the curb, cell phone to ear, bags at his feet, parking lot empty of cars, everyone gone except our family and him, we approached him and asked if he was waiting for a ride, he stated that he couldn’t reach anyone to come get him…we immediately told him we could take him wherever he needed to go and we meant it, even if it meant traveling to the northern border or southern border, we would give this soldier a ride home. As he picked up his bags to come with us to our vehicle,  a car pulled up beside him, the driver rolled down her window half way, stated, ‘ hurry up I haven’t got all day”!!

There was no, “welcome home Joe”… just, “ hurry up, I have things to do and you are making me late.” I wanted to ask that young lady to step out of her car and tell her a thing or two about respect, dignity and gratitude for our soldiers, but she was in too much of a hurry chatting away on her cell phone to give me a second glance. This is America, Land of the Free and our soldiers fight for her rights too. Crazy!!

That my friends is why we do what we do at Captain Dan Days event on Sunday of the past 6 years, we tribute our soldiers, veterans and families. We honor our fallen heros and the families left behind. We fly in a Blackhawk to land in our little city park. We thank the Mn. Patriot Guard Riders with a fly over of Ron Fagen’s WWII planes, we bring the Freedom Flight hotair balloon to help expose our kids and communities to the “real” world. Do our kids even know what MIA/POW, KIA, WIA stands for ?

 I feel it an honor to invite our Patriot Guard Riders to our event to stand silent flag line. It is my duty to support my neighbors, friends and family sons and daughters as they serve in the military.  One of my favorite quotes is this and it says it all…

“Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ, who died for your soul and the American Soldier, who died for your Freedom”   
~Tony Blair

Our 8th Captain Dan weekend has come and gone and left behind many great memories. The weather was cool but dry. We even lite our fire pots each day to warm ourselves while taking time to chat with a friend. We hosted a 10 team softball tourney, 6 teams of volleyball, one classy act was displayed by a new entry to volleyball, after winning the tourney the team from Franklin stopped and said thank you to the team captains and then bought a cold beverage for each of the other team place winners. We welcome them back again next year. Go Franklin !

Beanbag was run by Brandon and Sandy O.  kids dodgeball ref’ed by Paul and Jan Brown, obstacle courses hosted by Dustin and Darcy Tietz, lil’ tots playtime run by Sheila Rubendall , Jessica’s lil’ pony rides, Rockwall and obstacle course by Nat’l Guard. We had volunteers from community service, family, friends, Confirmation kids, NHS kids. There was activity going on everywhere….and the music was amazing DJ Dave Munsell once again serenaded our guests with music in all parts of the park. He is one amazing, talented, energetic, music loving man….then we were treated to a “live band” on Sunday with Larry Mages and family, they learned several new songs for our ceremony and balloon release…we are forever grateful for their presence and we will always welcome them back to our Captain Dan Days.

We inflated 500 balloons in an hour with the help of our Compassionate Friends group for the balloon release on Sunday. It was breath-taking to watch as our volunteers carried the bundles of balloons from Com. Center to be gifted to our guests…it was so pretty to see all the colors mingled in the park and the then there were the hundreds of flags being displayed by guests as we awaited the arrival of 50 plus Patriot Guard Riders into Lucan.

Our focal point this year was to thank the Mn. Patriot Guard Riders for all they do to support our soldiers and their families.  So with special permission we dedicated the ceremony to the PGR. We thanked the PGR for standing flag line at funerals, prayer services, welcome home and send off ceremonies. We thanked them for doing, “what is the right thing to do.” We thank them for forming the Red, White and Blue between grieving military families and radical protestors. They provide support, respect, comfort, pride and reassurance and they do so quietly without need for recognition. Our Captain Dan Dream Team had a special patch designed especially for the PGR and gifted each one in flag line with one to say thank you for helping to support our mission of honoring our soldiers and their families.

At this point our eyes were directed to the skies just south of Lucan as we heard the roar of a P40 and a P51 piloted by Ron Fagen and his son from Granite Falls. They did two passes over the park in tribute to the PGR, our veterans and soldiers. They flew just above the tree tops it seemed and left a deep impression in many a veterans heart and a tear formed on many cheeks, as I witnessed several nearby wipe them away. Later these same veterans came to thank me for arranging this amazing show and I in turn thanked them for their service. My dad would have been so proud, for he too served in Korea on a tank and was a very proud veteran.

Sawyer Stevens and his dad Daniel (veteran of Desert Storm) along with Sawyer’s boy scout troop raised an American flag that was gifted to Alan Peterson, PGR sector captain by Captain Andrea Ourada. Kathy Meyers a PGR member sang the Nat’l Anthem. Brian Sams read a poem titled:

”I Stand for Those Who Have Fallen”. Duane Frank shared his impression of being welcomed home by the PGR. Laura Olson, KLGR shared her story of time in Iraq as a reporter. Larry Mages band performed the song, Strangers on Steel Horses, in tribute to the PGR.

And we ended with a dove release by the following

Rob and Cecilia Senkyr released a dove in tribute to Ana Marie who was born to eternal life on Jan. 15, 2009.

Chris Dunsmore a 23 year Nat’l Guard and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran released a dove in tribute to fallen soldiers whom he served with in Iraq:

1Lt Jason Timmerman, SSG David Day, SGT Jesse Lhotka.

Alan Schunk released a dove in memory of his son Shawn and all victims of suicide, while we continue our journey here with peace of mind knowing you are now in God’s hands and we remain blessed with the gift of you. Today we celebrate your life. As the doves are released they go their separate ways, like you….going home!

And the final event of ceremony was the balloon release, my personal favorite, my time to think of my son…we ask our guests to close their eyes and get a picture of their loved one in mind…the song, “Sissy’s Song” is sang by Larry Mages and when ready to release your own balloon to the heavens….just imagine the sky so blue, and hundreds of colorful balloons floating towards  the heavens….hugs, tears, memories, smiles…life is good,  God is great….Amen

Kindest Regards,

Laurie Ourada

Captain Dan Dream Team, Inc.

The Ourada Family

News

Captain Dan Days
2009 team winners

Softball

Team leaders: Andy Ourada
Patty Erickson, Justin Bouwman
2-0 bracket
1st Miller/Altermatt
2nd Team Tom Carlson
3rd Skoblik’s

1. bracket

1st Mayberry

0-2 bracket
1st Red Eyes

Volleyball

Team leaders: Teri Hacker
Jen Otto, Shannon Kumpf
1st  Rangers
2nd I’d Hit That
3rd Ace’s Wild

Beanbag

Team leaders:
Brandon & Sandy Ourada
1st Ross & Jacob Rohlik
2nd Sandy & Andrea Ourada
3rd Brad Bond & Michael Ourada

Dodgeball for kids

Ref’s: Paul & Jan Brown
Most tenacious: Allison Benz
Best Sportmanship: Blake Harmoning

1st Firebreathing Rubberducks
2nd Hero’s
3rd Dominators

Basketball

Team Leader: Tony Ourada (Canby)

1st Tristan Pietig, Brady Kerkhoff, Josh Green
2nd Caleb Krause, Ben Alberg, Jacob Shmitt
3rd Alexis Schouvieller, Abbie Balsley, Jordan Hacker

Captains Obstacle courses

Team leaders: Dustin & Darcy Tietz

1st grade participants
1st
2nd
3rd

3-4 grade participants
1st
2nd
3rd

5-6 grade participants
1st
2nd
3rd
let me know if you know the winners, we will note

Lil Tots Play time drawings

Team leader: Sheila Rubendall
Chloe Stevens winner

Thank you to each and everyone who helped make our event the
Success that is was, especially to Theresa Gervais and my
Compassionate Friends group for inflating 500 plus balloons early
Sunday morning. Creative Touch Floral in St. James for helping with
Helium, ribbon and balloons and Ernest for getting the supplies here,
Could have done without the dog in backseat and sitting on the flowers!!

Thank you Jeff Gay for setting up the webcam and being here for assistance with veterans and military questions. Love having your smile at our event.

A special thank you to PGR Sector Ride Captain Alan Peterson for helping make things run smoothly with the ride in and flag line…I love seeing the Red, White and Blue flag line in our little park.

The Stevens family for the flag ceremony and especially the boy scout troop and leader…beautifully done!!

PGR Member Kathy Meyers for sharing your amazing voice in Nat’l Anthem at beginning of ceremony. It sets the tone of program perfectly.

PGR member Brian Sams, you are as rough as they get with that big burly beard, but you have the heart of a lamb…thank you for sharing your poem.

SGT. Duane Frank, we thank you for sharing your thoughts on being a soldier and then being welcomed home by the PGR, very touching story.

Laura Olson, KLGR, you are an amazing friend and speaker, we can always count on you to add to our program…God bless you on your new journey.

Our 3 guests who released doves at ceremony, your emotions and stories touched our hearts, please know we love you and support you in your journey.

DJ Dave Munscell, you spent hours setting up equipment in park, it was much appreciated, there was even dancing in the park and I love seeing the folks just relaxing in their lawn chairs or on blankets….you are again welcome to come back and be a part of the Captain Dan Dream Team. Your mom is an inspiration, hugs to her too.

Larry Mages and family, you amaze me, even with the journey your family is on currently, you show up, ready to entertain and you put on one fine show again…we love you dearly.

The Freedom Flight hot air balloon wasn’t able to inflate and be tethered, too windy, imagine that in southern Minnesota!! But Pilot Terry Fuchs was amazing, he and his wife pitched in and helped inflate our 500 balloons and then visited and helped wherever help was needed…the hotair balloon is tentatively being scheduled for next May on a non windy day at Capt. Dan.

Mostly I again want to thank my family, especially Terry for always and ever being wherever I need him, to build, to fix, to listen, to advise, to hug…my honey do list never ends, but he still keeps that smile and attitude that we can do this and it will be good. He is right we did and it was.

Love you all,
Laurie
Captain Dan Dream Team, Inc.