Sergeant Major (SGM) Keith Swanson of the Minnesota Army National Guard, who resides in Kasota, will be the guest speaker at this year’s Veterans Day program at the Saint Peter High School gym at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Swanson is currently based out of Brainerd, HHC 1 194th Armor Regiment.
All area veterans are welcome to attend, and a special reception for veterans will be held before the program. Donuts and coffee will be served in the Saint Peter Community Room, next to the SPHS commons area. The public is also invited to attend the program.
Music for the program will be presented by the Saint Peter Concert Choir, under the direction of Bri Bergstrom, and by the Saint Peter High School Concert Band, under the direction of Dave Haugh. Members of the William R. Witty American Legion Post 37 Color Guard will also participate.
A special veterans’ recognition will also be presented by SPHS Principal Annette Engeldinger, honoring those SPHS alums who have served in the armed forces.
Parking info
Those attending the Veterans Day program are encouraged to park in the lots on the west side of the SPHS building near the event (gym) entrance.
About SGM Keith Swanson
SGM Swanson enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard in April 2003 and graduated from Saint Peter High School in June 2003. He attended Basic and Advanced Individual Training as an Infantryman at Fort Benning, Georgia. His previous assignments include serving in the 2nd Battalion 135th Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion 194th Armor Regiment, and Minnesota’s Joint Force Headquarters before taking his current role as the 1-194 th Armor Regiment Operations Sergeant Major in December of 2023. His deployments include supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005 and 2011, and the Multinational Force and Observers – Egypt in 2016.
SGM Keith Swanson
SGM Swanson holds an Associate’s Degree of Applied Science in Architectural Drafting from South Central College. His military education includes the Warrior Leader Course, Infantryman Advanced Leader Course, Maneuver Senior Leader Course, Battle Staff Non-commissioned Officer Course, and he is a 2025 graduate of the Sergeants Major Course at the US Army Sergeants Major Academy.
His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medals, and the Army Good Conduct Medal. He has also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Wheeled Vehicle Driver Badge.
SGM Swanson works for EDI-Dolejs, a consulting engineering firm in Mankato, MN, as a mechanical designer and drafter. He resides in Kasota, MN with his wife Amanda and their three children: Nevaeh, Angela, and Gabriel.
PREVIOUS SPHS VETERANS DAY SPEAKERS
2024 - Jenna Schmidtke - Veterans Service Officer for Faribault County; 101st Airborne US Army
2023 - Sydney (Johnson) Hanson - Captain MN National Guard (Bloomington, MN)
2022 - John “Knox” Allen - Commanding Officer of Navy Talent Acquisition MN
2021 - Jim Bixby - Lt. Col. MN Air National Guard
2020 - No event held due to pandemic
2019 - Mark Roemhildt - Commander US Navy (retired)
2018 - Joe Tierab - JAG (Judge Advocate General) lawyer for US Marine Corps
2017 - Clark Johnson – MN House of Representatives District 19A
2016 - Dave Johnson - SFC Platoon Leader (retired) Charlie Co., 205th Infantry Battalion, Mankato
2015 - Tim Adams - Space Operations Officer - MN Army National Guard
2014 - Tim Walz - Master Sergeant MN Army National Guard (retired) & US Congressman