Javascript is required to use this website.

Featured

Finding beauty, healing

Purple Heart veteran finds healing in honoring others with flowers

Janelle Atyeo
Jul 1, 2022
Jul 1, 2022

1 of 5

Connie Johnson shows an article from the local paper from when she was recognized by a program for wounded soldiers. It was the start of her journey toward healing.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Connie Johnson talks about her Purple Heart from her time in the Army.

Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

Flowers from Freedom Acres decorate the grave of a veteran on a past Memorial Day.

Submitted photo

Freedom Acres sells fresh cut bouquets, wreaths and has a program to honor veterans who have passed away.

Submitted photo

Connie Johnson lays flowers by a veteran’s grave on Memorial Day. She grows flowers at her farm near Brandt, S.D., and donates a portion of her earnings to veterans groups.

Submitted photo

Prefer us on Google

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Janelle Atyeo

It started out pretty ugly. Two days into her tour of duty in Iraq as a 19-year-old soldier, Connie Johnson was injured in a humvee accident.

kAmxE H2D >:?@C[ E9@F89 ?2G:82E:?8 96C H2J E@ E96 >2<6D9:7E 9@DA:E2= E6?E :? zFH2:E ;FDE 2D F?:ED H6C6 D6EE:?8 FA @A6C2E:@?D H2D 2 492==6?86]k^Am

kAm%96?[ ;FDE H66<D 7C@> C6EFC?:?8 9@>6[ 96C 4@?G@J DECF4< 2 C@25D:56 3@>3] $9C2A?6= E@C6 :?E@ 96C ?64< 3FE >:DD65 2 >2;@C 2CE6CJ E92E[ :7 D6G6C65[ 4@F=5 92G6 <:==65 96C]k^Am

kAmq24< 2E 9@>6[ E9:?8D 8@E 6G6? F8=:6C] u@C J62CD[ D96 DF776C65 E9C@F89 3@FED @7 A@DE\EC2F>2E:4 DEC6DD 5:D@C56C W!%$sX E92E H6?E F?24<?@H=65865 3J 5@4E@CD[ @C 6G6? 3J y@9?D@? 96CD6=7]k^Am

Veteran-flowers-(12)---WEB.gif — Connie Johnson at about age 20 smiles from a turret during her time serving with the military police in Iraq.
Submitted photo

kAmu2DE 7@CH2C5 `f J62CD[ 2?5 y@9?D@? 92D EFC?65 2== E92E A2:? :?E@ D@>6E9:?8 362FE:7F= ]k^Am

kAm~? 96C AC@A6CEJ ?@CE9 @7 qC2?5E[ $@FE9 s2<@E2[ 9F?5C65D @7 7=@H6C 3F=3D 3=@@> F?56C E96 H2C>E9 @7 2 9:89 EF??6= 8C66?9@FD6] %96J’C6 E96 DAC@FED @7 y@9?D@?’D ?6H 3FD:?6DD 42==65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7C665@>24C6DD5]4@>^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmuC665@> p4C6Dk^2m[ H9:49 D6==D 7C6D9 4FE 7=@H6CD 2?5 @776CD 2 D6CG:46 E@ 9@?@C G6E6C2?D H9@ 92G6 A2DD65 2H2J]k^Am

kAm!2EC:@E:D> 2?5 962=:?8 2C6 2E E96 4@C6 @7 H92E D96 5@6D]k^Am

kAm“x =@G65 >J E:>6 :? E96 D6CG:46[” D96 D2:5 7C@> 96C 5:?:?8 C@@>[ E96 E23=6 DAC625 H:E9 >652=D[ A2E496D 2?5 A9@E@D 7C@> 96C E:>6 :? E96 >:=:E2CJ]k^Am

kAmy@9?D@? ;@:?65 E96 pC>J 27E6C 9:89 D49@@=[ `g >@?E9D 27E6C E96 h^`` E6CC@C:DE 2EE24<D] $6CG:46 CF?D :? E96 72>:=J] w6C 525[ y@9? }6:==[ H2D 2 z@C62? (2C G6E6C2?[ 2?5 96C 3C@E96C C646?E=J C6E:C65 7C@> 2 >:=:E2CJ 42C66C]k^Am

kAm$96 6?;@J65 E96 DECF4EFC6[ CF=6D 2?5 A2EC:@E:D>[ D96 D2:5[ 2?5 92D 7@?5 >6>@C:6D @7 D:?8:?8 E96 4256?46 5FC:?8 32D:4 EC2:?:?8 2E u@CE {6@?2C5 (@@5[ |:DD@FC:]k^Am

Veteran flowers (9).JPG — Mementos from Johnson’s time in the Army are displayed on her dining room table, including photos of the injury she suffered from a roadside bomb.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

kAm“%96C6 H2D D@>6E9:?8 23@FE E92E D@F?5 @? 2 4C:DA >@C?:?8[” D96 D2:5] “x H2D 6I24E=J H96C6 x H2D DFAA@D65 E@ 36]”k^Am

kAmw6C F?:E H:E9 E96 `_`DE |:=:E2CJ !@=:46 r@>32E r@>A2?J 56A=@J65 E@ xC2B :? |2C49 a__b] %96J DA6?E >@DE @7 E96:C E:>6 :? |@DF=[ :? ?@CE96C? xC2B] w6C >2;@C :?;FCJ 92AA6?65 H96? D96 H2D AC@G:5:?8 D64FC:EJ 7@C 2 =:6FE6?2?E 4@=@?6= 2E 2 >66E:?8 2E 2 >@DBF6] %96J 925 ;FDE 3F>A65 FA @G6C E96 %:8C:D #:G6C @? E96:C H2J 324< E@ 32D6 H96? E96J 9:E 2 C@25D:56 3@>3 E92E 925 366? A=2?E65 5FC:?8 E96 >66E:?8]k^Am

kAmw6C ;@3 2D C62C 8F??6C H2D E@ <66A H2E49 @G6C E96 324< 6IA2?D6] w6C 9625 H2D EFC?65 H96? E96 D9C2A?6= 9:E] w25 D96 366? =@@<:?8 E96 @E96C H2J[ D96 D2:5[ :E H@F=5 92G6 4FE 2 >2;@C 2CE6CJ]k^Am

kAm$96 C646:G65 E96 pC>J r@>>6?52E:@? |652= 2?5 2 !FCA=6 w62CE H9:=6 :? E96 9@DA:E2=] qFE 2D D@@? 2D D96 H2D 4=62C65[ D96 H2D 324< :? 2 EFCC6E E@ 7:?:D9 FA 96C =2DE 4@FA=6 @7 H66<D @7 D6CG:46 :? xC2B]k^Am

Veterans Day — Army veteran Connie Johnson speaks at the 2021 Veteran’s Day program in Clear Lake, S.D. She donates a portion of the proceeds from her Freedom Acres business to local veterans groups.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Janelle Atyeo

kAm“x 925 2 =@E @7 762C[ 3FE x ;FDE DH2==@H65 :E 5@H? 2?5 AC6E6?565 :E 5:5?’E 92AA6?[” D96 D2:5 @7 C6EFC?:?8 E@ H@C<]k^Am

kAm$96 DA6?E E96 ?6IE 564256 ECJ:?8 E@ >@G6 @?[ ?@E C62=:K:?8 E92E 96C :?;FCJ H2D >@C6 E92? A9JD:42=]k^Am

kAm“%92E H2D ;FDE `_ J62CD @7 D:=6?46 7@C >6[ 3FE E92E 89@DE @7 H2C H2D DE:== 7@==@H:?8 >6 2C@F?5[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmy@9?D@? H6?E @? H:E9 96C =:76[ 7@4FD65 @? 3F:=5:?8 96C 42C66C 2?5 96C 72>:=J] w6C 9FD32?5[ $92H? y@9?D@?[ :D 2 7@C>6C |2C:?6 H9@ D6CG65 7C@> `hhb\`hhf] %96J 92G6 E9C66 <:5Di p??2[ `e[ +25:6[ `d[ 2?5 qC@4<[ `a[ H9@ 8@ E@ D49@@= :? r=62C {2<6]k^Am

kAm$96 76=E H62< 7@C 36:?8 :?;FC65 2E 2== 2?5 H2D =@2E96 E@ 24<?@H=6586 96C @H? D42CD :? E96 7246 @7 E9@D6 42CC:65 3J @E96CD] $96 92D 2 =2C86 D42C @? 96C ?64<[ ?6CG6 52>286 2?5 ?F>3?6DD[ 3FE @E96C G6E6C2?D 42>6 9@>6 >:DD:?8 =:>3D @C 4@G6C65 :? 3FC? D42CD]k^Am

kAm$96 5:5?’E D66 96C DECF88=6D 2D 2 AC@3=6> F?E:= D96 H2D C64@8?:K65 3J 2 G6E6C2?D 8C@FA E92E 5@6D E96C2AJ E9C@F89 >FD:4] $96 H2D 8:7E65 2 8F:E2C] $96 5@6D?’E A=2J[ 3FE :E >256 96C 4CJ] %92E’D H96? D96 C62=:K65 9@H 96C :?;FCJ 27764E65 96C]k^Am

Veteran flowers (24).jpg — Connie Johnson lays flowers by a veteran’s grave on Memorial Day. She grows flowers at her farm near Brandt, S.D., and donates a portion of her earnings to veterans groups.
Submitted photo

People are also reading…

Eight-generation farm raises rare cattle breed
Young Montana rancher speaks up about regulatory overreach
The Right Data Put This Grower in the Driver’s Seat
Corn hybrids headed for emergency
Economist Hart caps off Iowa State career
Soybean market considering crop expectations
Machines in miniature: Hobby engineer brings creations to Dakotafest
Grain storage helps with harvest efficiency
The 10 laws of agriculture
Canola harvest begins in North Dakota
Woman Farmer-Rancher of the Year to be named at Dakotafest
Proud to be from top-ranked Nebraska
Consistent hard work means success
Barn Boards and Baling Wire
Sunflower prices bucking the trend

kAm“x ;FDE <:?5 @7 3FC:65 566A[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmy@9?D@? DE2CE65 C6249:?8 @FE E@ 8C@FAD 7@C G6E6C2?D 2?5 A2CE:4:A2E65 :? E96C2AJ C6EC62ED[ 3FE D96 H2D DE:== D<6AE:42= 23@FE !%$s] (96? D96 =67E E96 D6CG:46 :? a__d[ E96C6 H2D DE:8>2 2C@F?5 E96 5:D@C56C] !6@A=6 6BF2E65 !%$s H:E9 2 “4C2K:?6DD” E92E 42FD65 D@=5:6CD E@ 8@ @? 2 C2>A286 <:==:?8 :??@46?E A6@A=6] |@C6 DF3E=6 67764ED H6C6?’E 24<?@H=65865[ 2?5 D6CG:46D E@ EC62E E96 5:D@C56C H6C6 92C5 E@ 7:?5]k^Am

kAmxE E@@< 2 =@E @7 :?:E:2E:G6 7@C y@9?D@? E@ D66< 42C6]k^Am

kAm“pD 2 G6E6C2?[ J@F 92G6 E@ 25G@42E6 7@C J@FCD6=7[ 2?5 E92E :D G6CJ[ G6CJ 92C5 E@ 5@[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmtG6?EF2==J D96 EC:65 >6?E2= 962=E9 4@F?D6=:?8 2E E96 '6E6C2?D p772:CD |65:42= r6?E6C :? $:@FI u2==D] (@C<:?8 E9C@F89 E96 6G6?E EC:886C65 2 7=:89E @C 7:89E C6DA@?D6] $96 BF:E 27E6C D:I D6DD:@?D]k^Am

kAm!%$s 4@>A@F?565 H:E9 8C:67 H96? 96C 525 5:65 :? a_`f] $96 <6AE C6=:G:?8 E96 6G6?ED :? 96C 9625]k^Am

kAm“x H2D?’E ;FDE 3@>365 @?46j x H2D 3@>365 E9@FD2?5D @7 E:>6D] x H2E4965 s25 5:6 E9@FD2?5D @7 E:>6D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

Veteran flowers (17).jpg — Connie Johnson laid flowers at her dad's grave. The two were close, and his death had an impact on her mental health.
Submitted photo

kAm$96 DE2CE65 8C:67 4@F?D6=:?8 2?5 564:565 D96 ?66565 E@ AFE 96C >:?5 :?E@ D@>6E9:?8 6=D6] %96 DA2C< 7@C E92E D@>6E9:?8 6=D6 42>6 :? E96 7@C> @7 2? 2CE:4=6 @? 9@>6DE625 7=@H6C 8C@H:?8]k^Am

kAm“(96? J@F 8:G6 7=@H6CD[ J@F 766= :E 566A :?D:56[” D96 D2:5] “xE’D <:?5 @7 364@>6 D@>6E9:?8 E92E’D ?@E ;FDE 2 3FD:?6DD :562] xE’D D@>6E9:?8 x 42? AFE >J 962=:?8 677@CED :?E@]”k^Am

kAm$96 ;F>A65 :?E@ E96 7=@H6C 3FD:?6DD H:E9@FE <?@H:?8 >F49 23@FE :E] $96’D =62C?:?8 2D D96 8@6D \ C625:?8 FA @? H92E E@ A=2?E D@ D96 4@?E:?F2==J 92D 3=@@>D 2?5 =62C?:?8 H9:49 7=@H6CD 42? 2?5 42?’E 36 A2:C65 :? E96 D2>6 G2D6]k^Am

kAmpE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ D96’D =62C?:?8 E@ 7F?4E:@? H:E9 96C 5:D@C56C] ~? 325 52JD[ D96 42? 4@>6 9@>6 2?5 H@C< :? E96 82C56? E@ AFE 96C >:?5 2E 62D6] u2C>:?8 7@DE6CD A2E:6?46[ D96 D2:5[ 3@E9 7@C H2E49:?8 D@>6E9:?8 8C@H 2?5 7@C E96 962=:?8 AC@46DD]k^Am

Veteran flowers (16).jpg — Daffodils grow outside the new high tunnel greenhouse at the Freedom Acres farm north of Brandt, S.D.
Submitted photo

kAm“xE’D D@ AFCA@D67F=[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%9:D DAC:?8[ y@9?D@? 3682? E@ D6== 3@FBF6ED 2E E96 8C@46CJ DE@C6 :? r=62C {2<6] $96 2=D@ @776CD 4FDE@> @C56CD 2?5 HC62E9D[ H:E9 `_T @7 AC@4665D 5@?2E65 E@ >:=:E2CJ @C82?:K2E:@?D]k^Am

kAmp A2CE @7 96C 3FD:?6DD :D 2? 25@AE\2\G6E6C2? AC@8C2>] rFDE@>6CD 42? D6=64E 2 G6E6C2? 3FC:65 2E 2 =@42= 46>6E6CJ E@ 9@?@C[ 2?5 y@9?D@? H:== A=246 2 3@FBF6E 2E E96 8C2G6 D:E6 2?5 8:G6 2 >:=:E2CJ D2=FE6]k^Am

kAm$96 766=D 2 4@??64E:@? H:E9 E9@D6 G6E6C2?D]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 2 A2CE @7 E96 72>:=J 3642FD6 J@F D6CG65[ E@@[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmy@9?D@? 2:>D 7@C 2 DFDE2:?23=6 3FD:?6DD[ FD:?8 4@>A@DE 7C@> 96C 49:4<6?D :? E96 7=@H6C 365D 2?5 4@==64E:?8 H2E6C :? C2:? 32CC6=D] $96 9@A6D E@ 255 366D[ 2D H6==] $96 2=D@ EC:6D E@ DFAA@CE @E96C G6E6C2?\@H?65 3FD:?6DD6D H96? D96 42? \ E96 4@>A2?J D96 9:C65 E@ 3F:=5 96C H63D:E6[ 7@C 6I2>A=6] w6C 7:CDE 9:C6 7@C E96 7=@H6C 82C56?D :D 2? p7892?:DE2? (2C G6E6C2?]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 8C@H:?8 7=@H6CD :D E96C2A6FE:4 7@C 96C[ y@9?D@? H2?ED E@ 6G6?EF2==J D92C6 E96 962=:?8 3J @776C:?8 4=2DD6D E92E >:I E96 =:89E6C D:56 @7 H92E D96 5@6D H:E9 2 >@C6 D6C:@FD 9@33J]k^Am

kAmr2==65 u=@H6CD E@ u:C62C>D[ E96 4=2DD6D H:== E6249 3@E9 7=@C2= 2CC2?86>6?E 2?5 E96 32D:4D @7 92?5=:?8 2 D9@E8F?]k^Am

kAmxE’D 23@FE 32=2?46[ D96 D2:5]k^Am

Veteran flowers (21).jpg — Connie Johnson builds her high tunnel greenhouse on her farm near Brandt, S.D., in 2021. Funding for the structure came from a federal loan program for veteran farmers.
Submitted photo

kAmy@9?D@?’D 52J ;@3 :D H@C<:?8 2D 4@@C5:?2E@C @7 G6E6C2?D D6CG:46D 7@C E96 '6E6C2?D p772:CD #6D@FC46D r6?E6C s6A2CE>6?E 2E $@FE9 s2<@E2 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ :? qC@@<:?8D] $96 2=D@ D6CG6D 2D AC6D:56?E @7 E96 $@FE9 s2<@E2 '6E6C2?D r@F?4:= 2?5 :D 2 C68:@?2= =6256C 7@C E96 (@F?565 (2CC:@C !C@;64E]k^Am

kAmuC665@> p4C6D :D 2?@E96C H2J D96 4@?E:?F6D E@ D6CG6 96C 4@F?ECJ[ 2?5 E96 D@=5:6CD =:<6 96C H9@ D24C:7:465 E@ AC@E64E :E]k^Am

Janelle is editor of the Tri-State Neighbor, covering South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa and northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at jatyeo@tristateneighbor.com or follow on Twitter @JLNeighbor.