Army Technical Sgt. Don Halverson and five other World War II veterans will be honored during an Aug. 18 dinner cruise on the St. Croix River to benefit the Stillwater Veterans Memorial.

Halverson, 103, of Brooklyn Center, joined the U.S. Army in 1943. He was assigned to the 34th Infantry Division Red Bull unit and led a platoon of soldiers from Naples, Italy, to the border of Switzerland. He was present when the German 34th Division surrendered to the American 34th Infantry Division on May 2, 1945, and he received a citation recognizing this historical event.

Halverson also was awarded the Bronze Star, The Good Conduct medal, the Distinguished Unit Badge, the Combat Infantry Badge and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon. Later in life, he received the Order of St. Maurice medal and the Order of St. George Medallion.

Other WWII veterans who will be honored include Ed Albrecht, 101; Bob Holmstrom, 100; Jim Rasmussen, 102; Bill Kruschel, 101, and Bob Michelsen, 100.

Also attending will be Holocaust survivor Cass Lewart, 96, who survived a Warsaw ghetto as a 14-year-old youth, said John Kraemer, a member of the Stillwater Veterans Memorial board.

This year’s featured speaker is retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. John Kline, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2017.

Proceeds will fund operations, maintenance and future expansion of the veterans memorial site at Third and Pine streets, Kraemer said.

Tickets are $35; reservations are required. Boarding of the Avalon starts at 4:30 p.m. at Stillwater River Boats, 525 S. Main St., with departure at 5:45 p.m. and return from the round trip to Hudson, Wis., by 8 p.m. The program includes a buffet dinner, cash bar, raffles and opportunities for guests to visit with veterans.

For more information, go to stillwaterveteransmemorial.org or call 651-271-0511.