Nurse’s service to country leaves lasting impact

Cuyuna Regional Medical Center recently acknowledged the service of Certified Registered Nurse Theresa Blomer, who served for 25 years in the National Guard while simultaneously working in her nursing career and raising a family.

Jim Knudsen, a resident of Brainerd, recently recognized Blomer during a presentation held on March 15 in the CRMC lobby. Knudsen presented Blomer with a “Nursing Challenge Coin,” and a 194th Regiment coin along with a certificate of appreciation for her service.

Knudsen met Blomer during a medical appointment at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center.

Learning of Blomer’s service, he was inspired to honor her. For a quarter of a century, Blomer defended the nation, serving in the North Dakota Air National Guard and the Minnesota Air National Guard 133rd Airlift Wing out of Minneapolis.

She deployed for six months to Kuwait, worked Homeland Security following 9/11, offered protection during the George Floyd riots and worked countless hours during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A press release said, “Knudsen’s appreciation for military service runs deep, influenced by his uncle, Julius Knudsen, a member of the 194th Tank Battalion from Brainerd, who went missing during the harrowing Death March of Bataan.”

For Blomer, the gesture was more than just a token; it was a testament to the profound impact one person’s kindness and dedication can have on another.

“For somebody to take this time, I can’t put it into words. It’s just special to know that I made somebody’s day and he made my day. These coins are earned, not something handed out. It means you did something extraordinary or left a special mark on someone.”