Today is Member Monday, highlighting some of our MN DAV Chapter 39 members. Ken Plant, an active member of MN DAV Chapter 39, served in the Marine Corps as a correspondent from 1969 to 1974. A graduate of the Defense Information School and the Senior DINFOS, he joined the ranks of U.S. Army public affairs practitioners in 1983. He retired in 2016 with 36 years of service but continues to volunteer with organizations focused on serving veterans and educating the public about the role of the military. Webmaster for MN DAV Chapter 39, Plant serves on the annual golf tournament committee and is actively involved in promoting fund-raising events through social media and providing photographic and video coverage. Check out the Chapter’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MNDAVAnokaChapter39 and a sample of event coverage at https://anoka39davmn.com/leo-luskey-annual-dav-golf-tournament/.
In addition to the DAV, he is a lifetime member and public affairs officer of the Army Reserve Association and a lifetime member of the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Association. Since 2014 Plant has teamed up with other veterans of various eras through “The Telling Project,” (https://thetellingproject.org/) sharing service in the military on college stages, theaters, public radio stations, and in 2017 was recruited to be a member of the Twin Cities Public Television and Tell Project’s production of MN Remembers Vietnam, which aired nationally on PBS. A few weeks after the production, cast member, Ken Sholes, had a stroke resulting in paralysis and aphasia. Plant volunteered to become his caregiver and with the help of Minneapolis VA Medical Center therapists and doctors, assisted with his recovery. Ken and Ken became frequent volunteers of local DAV fund-raising events and outdoor sponsored veteran programs. Three years later, In November 2020, Sholes, while visiting his sister in Maryland, had a seizure and passed. Plant orchestrated Ken Sholes’ committal service with military honors at Fort Snelling Cemetery, attended by his family and DAV Chapter 39 honor detail in attendance. For the DAV’s Bicentennial event in November 2020, Plant participated in the Walk, Roll, Run, and Ride 5K, honoring “Ken Sholes” on Veterans Day at the new Veterans Park in Blaine. He also volunteered in 2018 and again in 2019 to help present DAV embroidered blankets to Veterans in Anoka and surrounding county nursing homes.
This Fall, Plant is revisiting the next chapter in his life, seeking employment with a value-based organization, and returning to his passions of painting, sculpting, and bass fishing.
August 6th was National Root Beer Float Day and to celebrate A&W and the DAV gave away FREE Root Beer Floats to all Veterans between 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. MN DAV Chapter 39 Commander, Bill Gordon, thanked the A&W staff and management at 140 Orr Ave. in Buffalo, Minnesota for supporting the annual event. A&W offers a 10 percent discount to Veterans daily.
MN DAV Chapter 39 Clothing Drive coming to Cub Foods, Riverdale Mall parking lot, 12940 Riverdale Drive, Coon Rapids, MN 55448 on Sat. August 14 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sun., August 15, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Look for our DAV signs and trailer. Proceeds from the clothing drive support area Veterans. Please bag or box your clothing, shoes and small household items.
MN DAV Chapter 39 and Auxiliary Unit 39 will conduct their monthly member meetings on Thursday, August 12 at 6:30 PM at the VFW, Coon Rapids Blvd., Coon Rapids, MN 55433. Agenda will include updates from those attending the DAV National Convention and the Leo Luskey DAV Golf Committee. Details to volunteer for the August clothing drive and the September Forget-Me-Not fundraiser will be reviewed. CDC and MN Dept. of Health updated guidance related to the recent COVID variant rise in cases in Anoka County “recommends” wear of masks for indoor gatherings, and “mandates” wear for those unvaccinated.
On Member Monday we highlight our members involved in their communities. Today we highlight William Gordon, an Air Force veteran and an active member of MN DAV Chapter 39. This year he was elected as the Chapter’s commander and chairman of the Leo Luskey 5th Annual Golf Tournament committee. Gordon has served twice as the Chapter’s junior vice commander. His support to veterans and their families is evidenced as a member of the DAV honor detail at cemetery committal services and participates in state and regional DAV conferences ensuring legislative support for veterans. During the DAV Centennial celebration in 2020, Gordon lived up to the organization’s challenge to conduct “100 Acts of Honor” as he volunteered at Chapter fund-raising events and during the winter months of 2019 and early 2020, presenting embroidered DAV blankets to veterans residing assisted living facilities throughout the Chapter’s five-plus county area.
On Member Monday we highlight our members involved in their communities. Today we highlight Travis Rust, an active member of MN DAV Chapter 39. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Harrier Mechanic from 1999 to 2001.
This year Rust was elected as the Chapter’s junior vice commander and is a committee member of the Leo Luskey 5th Annual DAV Golf Tournament. His support to veterans extends beyond the DAV. He also serves as president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 292 Veterans Committee which supports the Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity organization building homes for low-income veterans. A master electrician and an apprenticeship instructor for Minneapolis Electrical JATC, the Marine Corps veteran enjoys the outdoors and time on the golf course.
On Member Monday we highlight our members involved in their communities. Today we highlight Scott Berndt, serving 23 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve. He currently serves as the adjutant and treasurer for MN DAV Chapter 39, and committee member of the Leo Luskey Annual DAV Golf Tournament https://anoka39davmn.com/leo-luskey-annual-dav-golf-tournament/
Berndt became a lifetime DAV member in 1997 and rebuilt the clothing donation program for the entire state. He and his wife, Nancy, have both served in many elected positions, supporting veterans at the chapter and state level for Department of Minnesota DAV. Most recently, Scott and Nancy served two terms as state commanders of MN DAV and MN DAV Auxiliary, respectively. They both also volunteer at Mary Ann Young Center in Blaine helping seniors prepare their taxes.
A Minnesotan, Berndt was born in Hayward and raised on the shores of Lake Superior. Now, a resident of Andover, his passions include continuing to support veterans in Anoka and surrounding counties, spending time with his growing family, and the outdoors, as owner and Captain of N & S Charter Boat Fishing on the Great Lakes https://n-sgreatlakesfishing.com/meet-the-crew
