(by Claire Eilola, age 10)  What is a veteran?  I wish I could give the exact definition but I don’t think there’s any way to perfectly describe one. To me though a veteran is a hero, someone who puts their lives on the line for others. A veteran to me is a noble, brave, and courage man or woman. Veterans are people who give their full dedication to America. A veteran is someone who has the courage to leave their family behind to protect and keep the country we live in safe and free. Veterans sacrifice a lot to be in the military.  They have to pack up their belonging, say goodbye to their loved ones and leave to go overseas.  Often times they miss spending the holiday and birthdays with their family.  Their job is difficult and important.  When we say things like “Veterans are heroes”, they say they are just normal people doing their job and they don’t take credit for all they do. They are a team.  Tall or short, black or white, boy or girl they all serve together to make our country a better place. But to me what a veteran really means is …FREEDOM!.  The reason you can go meet your friends at the mall, go to school, stay up late and choose your religion is that veterans fought for our freedom.  They risked their lives for us!  Veterans are the bravest strongest heroes ever.  Veterans make our lives better.  All together veterans have changed America and made it the place it is today and I am proud to say I am an American! Ever since our country was born in 1776, America has continued to prosper and grow, and it could not have done so without the soldiers that protected it.  From the Army men that believed in and fought for this budding nation, to the pilots who soared through the clouds in defiance of a new and greater threat.  I believe that all America’s veterans, both those alive today and those deceased, should be recognized and appreciated by this country.

MN Anoka Chapter and Unit 39’s Picnic will be held on Aug 15 at noon.  Look for the large Green Pole shed on the left side of the road.  Best way to get to the address is take Highway 10 to County Road 7 north, and when you go over the Rum River you are about 1 mile away, start looking for the street sign or the DAV Bi-fold sign.  The Chapter provides water, soda, and all the meat products.  Bring a small dish or salad to share with the members.  There are games play, and it a great time to get to know other members.

MINNEAPOLIS VETERANS HOME CIRCLE OF FLAGS NOW FLYING

On Flag Day, June 14, 2017, the Minnesota DAV Chapter 39 was honored by the Minneapolis Veterans Home in that the Circle of Flags are finally completed at the home.  For many years there were no service flags because of all of the construction and changing underway at the home.  Anoka Chapter 39 was one of the major donors to help make this happen.  The new building in the background is scheduled for completion this December and with Veterans moving in sometime next April. 

 

Adjutant Scott Berndt provides funding for Veterans Lake to John Enstrom from MN DAV Chapter 39.

SUPPORTING VETERANS LAKE AND AREA VETERANS

Anoka Chapter 39 is providing funds to assist Veterans Lake free fishing for Veterans on Aug 2nd 2017.  The Veteran Lake is located at 8702 181st Avenue NW, Ramsey, MN 55303.  The event is from 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM.  It is free to all veterans and family.  All the fishing equipment is provided and no fishing license required.  There is a dock to fish off and there will be some pontoons to take people around the 22 acre lake to caught some pan fish.

On June 14th (Wednesday) the Veterans Lake Park put on the largest Flag retirement ceremony in the state of Minnesota.  They can used some help on this event. This event start at 3:00 PM  You can call 763-441-4086   or e-mail: [email protected].

The Chapter 39 sponsored events and many others are made possible by donations and the sale of used clothing, shoes and other miscellaneous items collected at the 26 green DAV clothing bins located in Anoka and Sherburne counties. Additional bins are planned to be located in Isanti County in the near future. Clothes are taken from these bins each week by four volunteers, packed in a large trailer and hauled by volunteers to the Coon Rapids Thrift store where they are sold by the pound. In addition, the chapter coordinates 8 clothing drive each year April – Nov.

All of the community wide services offered to our veterans and family members are successful because of the hard work of the many men and women volunteers in our Chapter.

HELPING VETS DURING THE 2016 HOLIDAY

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays each year, the Anoka Chapter 39 helps over 67 veterans and their families in Anoka, Sherburne, and Isanti counties.  The project has been going on for the past ten years.  We work with each County Veterans Service Office to find the Veterans in need.  This year the Chapter gave $9,400.00 for this program towards buying gift cards from Cubs Foods and Wal-Mart.