Thanks to all the Chapter and Unit volunteers contributing to our final 2018 “Dollar Day Bagging” fundraiser. A big salute to County Market in Andover, and their generous customers in supporting DAV Anoka MN Chapter 39.

Salute to the Golden Corral and all the Veterans and family members who attended the Nov. 12th Veterans Appreciation Dinner. Special thanks for all the donations during the past week which will go to support our Veterans in need throughout our five-county area.

The Official State of Minnesota Veterans Day Program is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday, November 11 at the Veterans Memorial Community Center in Inver Grove Heights. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs invites Veterans, families, elected officials and community members to celebrate and honor all Veterans who have served this country. This year’s program will have a special focus on the Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Armistice that ended WWI. This year’s program will conclude with the nation-wide Tolling of the Bell at 11 a.m. In remembrance of those who served and sacrificed, Americans across the nation will ring bells at exactly the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

DAV and Golden Corral are once again partnering for the 18th Annual Military Appreciation Night on Monday, Nov. 12, 2018. The evening’s events, held at Golden Corral restaurants nationwide, will offer up free meals to veterans and active-duty service members, while collecting donations to support DAV’s grassroots service initiatives throughout the country. MN DAV Chapter 39 and Auxiliary 39 volunteers will team up to support Military Appreciation Night from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, at the Golden Corral, 3580 Main St NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55448. DAV volunteers will also be manning a DAV donation and membership information table at the Golden Corral in Coon Rapids from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm, Mon. to Sat., Nov. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, 10 and Sunday, Nov. 11, from 2:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Since the start of the 17-year tradition, Golden Corral has served just over 5.3 million complimentary meals and generated more than $14.3 million in guest contributions for DAV to support community-based service initiatives for veterans.

Cold weather, rain and snow did not stop our clothing drive. Thank you to all our members who volunteered for the final 2018 clothing drive on Oct. 13 & 14th. Thank you also to Wal-Mart in Andover for the use of your parking lot and our appreciation to the community who brought their bags and boxes of clothing and small household items which FILLED the trailer! Proceeds will go to local area veterans. If you missed the last clothing drive you can still drop off your bagged items at a GREEN DAV DROP-BOX.

DAV Chapter 39 was honored to have supported the 2018 Warrior Paddle Expedition. Veterans navigated down the Mississippi River with intermittent stop-overs, Anoka being the first. Photograph of the participating veterans and Teresa Schraff Shumway of the Coon Rapids VFW where a dinner with the expedition members was held. The 2018 Warrior Paddle team included Richard Bain, Navy veteran serving from 1987 to 2016 as a crew-served weapons instructor, with deployments to Kuwait and Iraq, Matthew Roy, Army veteran serving from 2000 to 2010 as a combat engineer with deployments to Kosovo and Iraq, and Ryan Webb, Army veteran serving from 2001 to 20014 as military police with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Since 2013, Warrior Expeditions has partnered with psychologists Dr. Shauna Joye (Air Force veteran) and Dr. Zachary Dietrich (Marine Corps veteran) to research the effects of long-term wilderness experiences on combat veterans. During their three to six-month outdoor expedition, veterans have the opportunity to decompress from their military service and come to terms with their wartime experiences.

Minnesota DAV Chapter 39 Forget-Me-Not campaign begins today, raising funds to support area Veterans. Look for DAV chapter and auxiliary members at six locations from 09:00 AM until 5:00 PM this Fri., Sat. and Sun, Sept. 7, 8 and 9th. You can make a donation to receive your blue Forget-Me-Not flower at six locations including Cubs Foods & Wal-Mart in the Riverdale Mall in Coon Rapids, and County Market, Festival Foods, & Wal-Mart in Andover, along with Sam’s Club in Fridley.

Minnesota DAV Chapter 39 and Auxiliary Unit 39 enjoyed sunny weather, fantastic food, and camaraderie at their annual picnic on August 11, 2018 at Aaron Bahe’s residence in Oak Grove. Ken Plant took time out from post webmaster duties to help prepare the picnic grounds. While preparing fresh corn on the cob, Aaron Bahe was heard cracking a few “corny” jokes, to include his passion for “picking on colonels.” Paul (Marty) Kampa, post commander, was the “grill sergeant” for the event. Music and conversation was enjoyed by all the post and unit members. Families enjoyed the summer day playing in the field. Picnic declared ANOTHER successful MN DAV post event.

Minnesota DAV Post 39 will be raising funds to support area Veterans during the month of September through the Forget-Me-Not campaign. Come back for dates and times where you can purchase your Blue Forget-Me-Not flower.

Clothing Drive coming to Cub Foods, 12900 Riverdale Drive NW, Coon Rapids (next to Wal-Mart), Sat. Aug 18th from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and Sun., Aug. 19, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Look for our DAV trailer and volunteers in the parking lot. Proceeds from clothing drive supports area Veterans.