When Max Utter was 14 years old and in the 8th grade at GMR Middle School in Middle River, he saw a notice hanging on the office door asking for a trumpet player to play Taps at the annual Post 444 Memorial Day Service. He volunteered, and has never missed a Middle River Memorial Day program since that day in 2016. It has become a very important part of his life that he takes very seriously. And he tops the day off each Memorial Day by visiting his Grandfather Berdean Knutson’s grave and playing taps for Grandpa. Max was 5 years old when Grampa Berdean died but has always been intrigued with the stories that he has heard about his Grandfather fighting in WW2. Max has also been invited to play Taps at the Memorial Service at the Marshall County Fair, area Veteran Day Services and at several veterans’ funerals. A talented young man...... a true patriot. Max graduated from GMR High School in 2020 and Northland Technical College in 2023 with an Auto Technician Diploma. He works at C & M Ford in Hallock as an Auto Technician. He enjoys 4-wheeling, snowmobiling, and working on cars, trucks, anything with an engine!
