Veterans Thanksgiving Dinner

Join us for a heartwarming and festive Veterans Thanksgiving Dinner! This event is a wonderful opportunity to express our gratitude to the brave men and women who have served our country. Taking place on Thursday, November 23, 2023, at 305 East 2nd Street, Superior, WI 54880, the event will kick off at 11:00 AM in Central Standard Time.

Come and enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving feast in the company of fellow veterans and their families. We will be serving a variety of traditional Thanksgiving dishes, including turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie.

This event is a great opportunity to connect with other veterans, share stories, and create lasting memories. Let's come together to honor and celebrate the sacrifices made by our veterans.

Don't miss out on this special occasion! Mark your calendars and make sure to join us for the Veterans Thanksgiving Dinner.

****When placing your ticket order, please indicate number of tickets you require in both General Admission and choose a time/meal location****

Please call us at 715-392-7151 if you would like assistance in making your reservation.

We would be happy to help!!

RSVP HERE

Vietnam War from the perspective of a South Vietnamese soldier

Guest Speaker: Ha Tuong

THIS EVENT IS CURRENTLY SOLD OUT

Join us for an evening dedicated to engaging with our deeply valued community, Northland Veterans, Event Sponsors & Generous Supporters. This year is extra special - It is our 20th Anniversary of hosting our auction event & we're eager to march our strong Bong Legacy Army towards a bigger and brighter future ahead!

It begins here.

Be a part of our take-off to something truly special on

Thursday, November 9th, 2023

1730 Hours

The Garden | 425 South Lake Avenue | Duluth, MN

Tickets $150 | per person

Table Reservation (8) | $1,200

Tickets, reservations & additional event details are available here.

Advance purchases is required & encouraged early for this anticipated sold-out event.

If you are unable to attend this event, please consider a donation towards our

‘Chairman’s Challenge’. All donations made directly to this fund are matched

(up to $75,000) by Board of Directors Chair, Terry Lundberg.

Donating in this way allows you to have a dramatic impact on this year’s event!

Pan Africa: Across the Sahara with Pan AM

Guest Speaker: Tom Culbert, Lt. Col (Ret)

WWI In The Twin Ports

Guest Speaker: Clyde Annala

As a Local Author , Historian & Retired Duluth Police Officer - Clyde’s knowledge of WWI & the Northland gives great perspective to our community’s rich history and past.

About The Lecture Series:

Learn all about the history of our own Twin Ports area during World War I.

The author, C.A. Annala will walk visitors through Duluth and Superior during 1917 and 1918, telling stories of how people navigated life during wartime.

Join us for a night of 1940’s Baseball & Wartime Classics with the Duluth Huskies & Border Town Betties - raising money for the Richard I Bong Veterans Center!

Join us as the Duluth Huskies take on Thunder Bay at 6:35pm (doors open at 5:35pm). Take in a local night of Baseball with a 1940s experience - Think ‘League of their Own’ baseball with our favorites - the Border Town Betties dressed in All American League Custom Baseball uniforms! Fun promotional games and happenings throughout the game. Come together in honor of Military and Memory raising money for a local Veterans Non-profit!

Please join the Wisconsin Geocaching Association at the Richard I Bong Veterans Museum and Superior Welcome Center on Sunday, July 9, 2023 11:00am-2:00pm. 

Geocaching 101 is for the new and fairly new geocachers to learn the basic fundamentals of the fabulous adventure called Geocaching.  This consists of a large display explaining Geocaching and also numerous examples of what you can expect to find as you search for caches in the area  There will also be experienced geocachers present to assist. 

Please bring a GPS or smartphone (download the free Geocaching.com app).  Please log your will attend here or contact Jodi@bongcenter.org

Be a part of our Community Army.

Make a difference for Veterans Like Dan Knight - A local Veteran, Volunteer and Friend, without end-of-life services.

Dan will be honored with a Flag Ceremony and Missing Man Ceremony by the American Legion Bong Post #435 and the Richard I Bong Veterans Historical Center. We will be collecting donations in Dan's honor to assist with future events at the Bong Center like this.

You can make an impact with any contribution - $5 or $500. Every little bit will help us continue similar services for our local Veterans. We are hosting both a Facebook Fundraiser and a drive-by fundraiser. You may donate anytime online now-July 15th in honor of Dan's memory. Our Drive-by donation will be hosted from 10am -12pm outside the Bong Center on July 7th following his ceremonies (9am). There will be an easy-to-access- area to drive in, and give a donation this day.

Thank you for your support, it never goes unnoticed and appreciated. To learn more about Dan, please visit our Facebook Fundraising Page (Link Below).

Facebook takes care of the donation processing with no fees

Donate Here: https://www.facebook.com/donate/1976747019325249/

Learn about Teddy Roosevelt’s rich history as our past President from nationally-recognized impersonator, Adam Lindquist! One of our most requested events of the Summer, meet Teddy, Take Photos and hear his presentations on things like The National Parks, The Spanish-American War and a Dakota Cowboy!

30 Minute Presentations will be conducted throughout the afternoon

Stop in and get a photo with Teddy Roosevelt!

FREE TOURS OF THE RICHARD I BONG MUSEUM ALL DAY 9AM - 5PM ON JULY 4TH!

Catch The Bong Center & Teddy Roosevelt in the City of Superior Parade on the morning of July 4th, too!

Richard I Bong Veterans Historical Center
Saturday, April 8th | 2:00pm - 3:00pm
FREE TO ATTEND

Program presented By Bob Peterson, Past Assistant Air Defense
Missile Director (Army Nike-Hercules).

Join us in learning about the SAGE Program at the Duluth Air Force Base (1963-1965). Presenter Bob Peterson will provide a comprehensive overview of the Duluth Air Defense Sector & SAGE Building. Learn about the F-106 interceptor & armament, BOMARC missile system & even the Army Nike-Hercules missile system (Minneapolis). You'll hear it all from the Man who was inside the Program with unique roles!

The Richard I Bong Veterans Historical Center presents Jesse Brown and the Corsair- A story of Korean War Heroism. Presented by EAA Program Director Chris Henry! Tuesday April 4th at 6:30 PM.

When Jesse Brown, the Navy’s first black aviator, was shot down over North Korea, his wingman Tom Hudner did the unthinkable to save him and crashed his own plane into the same mountain. Join us to hear the incredible tale that was the inspiration for the major motion picture ‘Devotion’!

On Saturday April 1st, along with Warrior Brewing Co., the Bong Veteran's Center will host 'Warrior Stories', a casual accounting of several scheduled stories from local veterans recounting an event from their service time - most fun and good-natured in humor. We will then open the floor for those in attendance who would like to share a story from their time in service. Join us in a pub setting, with Warrior Brewing pouring pints while we commemorate together!

The events are sponsored by the UMD Department of History, Political Science, and International Relations. Contact David J. Woodward at 218-726-8417 or dwoodwa1@d.umn.edu and Steve Matthews at 218-726-7544 or smatthew@d.umn.edu.

We Are Doing It!

Rosie the Riveter served as an icon to encourage Women into the workforce during WWII & she continues to be a symbol of

Female Strength & Empowerment still to this day!

Join us in a day of celebration of Rosie the Riveter and her impact on Women! It's a fun-filled afternoon of Female Empowerment as the Bong Veterans Center features 'Women in the Workforce' Reenactors & A WASPS Presentation sharing stories of how Women changed the landscape in male-dominated industries and proved - we CAN do it!

Also, join us in a modern online Look-A-Like Contest as Women continue to show - WE ARE DOING IT!

FUN EXTRAS

- Border Town Betties will be here!

- FREE Border Town Betties Calendar available to all attendees

- 'Women in the Workforce' Reenactors in museum from 10am-2pm

- WASPS Presentation in the Theatre at 2:00pm

- Exciting Rosie Merchandise Available in the Gift Shop

- Online Rosie Photo Contest leading up to Event Day- Winner chosen by Border Town Betties at 3:00pm.

- Rosie Photo Backdrop set-up at Bong Center for Contest Photo opportunities

On February 23rd, 1943, the Dorchester was hit by a torpedo. On board were 902 servicemen, only approx. 230 survived. Of the lives lost were four Chaplains, George L. Fox, Methodist; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed. The ship did not have enough live vests for their passengers; these four men willingly gave theirs up and did their best to calm the nerves of other servicemen. Learn more about their story at our program on January 29th, with the presentation of the Four Chaplains aboard the U.S.A.T Dorchester.

Joining us will be two local military Chaplains, including the first woman Chaplain of the U.S. military, and an army veteran.

Please RESERVE a spot here.

The Superior Singers will be joining us at the Bong Center Saturday, December 10th from 12:30pm to 2:30pm for a Christmas concert. There will be free admission for those attending the event.

SOARING INTO OUR TWENTIES:

Bags tournament check-in at 9:15am - $35 per team (32 teams total)

Bike show (bring in your decorated motorcycle) from 12-2pm - FREE

Border Town Betties will be volunteering at this event!

Puppy Dog Parade check-in at 1pm (pre-entry required) - FREE

Bong Beer Launch "Ace of Aces Patriot Double IPA” at 4:30pm - $7 Pints

Half-price admission to the museum - veterans get in free Duluth Dawgs, K&B Grilled Cheese and All Smoked Up food trucks on location!

Pre-register for the Bags and Bike show: gidley@bongcenter.org

Pre-register for the Dog Show: emmaw@bongcenter.org