S LUTE November | 2018
VETERANS DAY 2018
• ADAPTIVE HOUSING FOR VETERANS • POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
ANNIE ADAMS
CROSBY NATIVE SERVES WITH “DRAGON WHALES” Also in this edition
Veteran Stats
Marvin Keogh Local Service Heroes
A publication of the Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal
SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED OUR COUNTRY
“To finally have a place to call home” We at LAHFH are honored to serve 2 Veterans and their families who have chosen to partner with us to build their homes this year: Josh was a Systems Analyst in the Air Force. When he was honorably discharged, he was 40% disabled which created some work limitations which resulted in a gap in their finances that they just haven’t been able to bridge. They applied for a Habitat home last year and were not approved. Their discipline and commitment to clean up their credit resulted in their Josh and Breanna family
acceptance this year for a LAHFH home. This is their DREAM come true: to have a place to call HOME. They are looking forward to their new home and spending time in the kitchen as they love to cook as a family. The children are excited to have a yard they can play in and spend time with their dog, Tucker!
Martin
“A tragedy transformed into a full circle blessing!” Dennis joined the military shortly after high school. Dennis had many dreams, but life handed him some challenges that resulted in some hardship in his life. Through support from his church and community, Dennis started down a path to improve his life. Dennis is now the manager at Salem WEST. He stays very active in his community by serving as a color
guard and a volunteer with the fire department. The fact that his new home is located on the very grounds where the original Salem WEST burned down serves as a reminder that when communities work together, a tragedy such as this can be transformed into a blessing.
d family
Dennis Peterson an
LAHFH WOULD LIKE TO SEND OUT A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE SERVED THIS COUNTRY. WE APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY AND OUR COMMUNITIES. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE OUR HEROES! 001769200r1
Lakes Area
Promoting strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter in Cass, Crow Wing & Hubbard Counties and the City of Staples
218-828-8517 www.lakesareahabitat.org
CONTENTS ‘18 On the cover:
Photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward.
ANNIE ADAMS
Staff
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By Ricky Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach Crosby native Annie Adams, serves with Versatile U.S. Navy Helicopter Squadron, “Dragon Whales.” Adams says becoming a leader has given her motivation to give back.
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ADAPTIVE HOUSING
By Travis Grimler, Echo Journal Vietnam veteran John Meyers, of Pequot Lakes, improves mobility in his home through a program by the Veterans Administration.
MARVIN KEOGH
PUBLISHER Pete Mohs ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Susie Alters ART DIRECTOR Lisa Henry COPY EDITOR DeLynn Howard MARKETING COORDINATOR Leo Miller ADVERTISING Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Publishing Media Consultants ADVERTISING DESIGNERS Andy Goble, Angela Hoefs and Sue Stark CUSTOMER SERVICE Kori Flowers
By Gabriel Lagarde, Brainerd Dispatch Nisswa resident and veteran of the Korean War era — speaks to the Dispatch on everything from the Iron Curtain and high school football to farming in southern Minnesota.
“SOLDIER ON”
By Frank Lee, Brainerd Dispatch Scott Hall, 39-year-old husband and father from Baxter, has battled post-traumatic stress disorder ever since his tour of duty in Afghanistan was over.
S LUTE CONTACT US: Advertising@BrainerdDispatch.com (218) 855-5895 ATTN: Salute Brainerd Dispatch, P.O. Box 974, Brainerd, MN 56401
Also in this issue
Veterans Day................................. 4 Local Stats at a Glance ........ 4 To our readers, It is publications like this that really highlight our lakes area community support and citizenship. Thank you to all who submitted photos of your dearly loved veterans. We are proud to tell you this publication has grown immensely from year to year because of the amazing support from our community as well as businesses in the Brainerd lakes area. We are very honored to be able to put together such a special publication. A special thank you to our businesses who make this project possible and with their support allow for FREE photo submissions to the community. Warmest Thanks! From all of us at Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal
Veterans Day Salute is an annual publication of the Brainerd Dispatch and Echo Journal. Copyright© 2013 VOLUME 6, FALL 2018
Branches of U.S. Military
VETERANS DAY Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day
Veterans Day- Tribute to all veterans, living or deceased. Memorial Day- Tribute to those who lost their lives in combat.
Army
Significance of November 11: The armistice agreement between Germany and Allied troops was signed in 1918 on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th hour. The agreement ended World War I after four years of continuous warfare. SOURCE: https://www.dosomething.org/facts/11-facts-about-veterans
LOCAL STATS AT A GLANCE
Navy
Crow Wing County (CWC)
67
%
6%
Air Force
CWC vets participate in the labor force
Income below poverty level (of CWC 5,660 total surveyed)
94%
95% Male
Total Gulf War Vietnam Era
(of CWC 5,660 total surveyed)
World War II
376
Female 305 Male 5,430 Estimates by the United States Census Bureau
1,811
5%
21.7 million United States veterans
4
CWC vets have a disability
According to the Veteran Data Pocket Card, the projected U.S. veteran population is 21,681,000; 2,035,000 females and 19,646,000 males.
S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
2,319 750
Female
Marine Corps
986
Korean conflict
Income at or above poverty level
Coast Guard
5,735
Richard Cameron Sr. Army Air Corps WWII Deceased 3/12/2003
LaVern “Skip” Lowe Army 1965-1986; Vietnam War
Gerald Hoefs Army WWII Deceased 11/12/2011
Daniel Lowe Army Afghanistan 1970-2005
Duane Hoefs Army 1970-1972
Bryan L. Martinsen Army Reserves 2008-2015
Richard Rezanka Army 1917-1918; WWI Deceased 8/2/1990
Richard B. Rezanka Air Force 1943-1945; WWII Deceased 3/23/1992
Arland Speer Army
Cailee R. Jensen Air Force 2017-Present
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE & SACRIFICE
For all that you are and all that you’ve given to our country, we salute you, veterans. Thank you for protecting our freedom at home and overseas. Your service and your sacrifice will always be remembered. With gratitude, we honor America’s veterans and military personnel. 001784623r1
Commercial and Residential Construction Architects and General Contractors
www.hytecconstruction.com (218) 829-8529 • BRAINERD, MN S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
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ADAPTIVE HOUSING
A
By TRAVIS GRIMLER
midst the veterans who have served the United States in active duty are many with serious mo-
bility issues. The Veterans Administration has a program to help those people in their everyday lives.
The program is designed to pay for projects that focus on increasing mobility inside a veteran’s home. Usually that includes accessibility ramps, lifts, widened doorways for wheelchair access, hard flooring, bathroom fixtures and wheelchair-accessible counter tops. The program requires that every project meet specific building codes, improve mobility and stay under a budget (currently of $85,645). There are several projects featured in most grants. “I like to call it the ‘big three,’ which is we will give you two ways in and out of your house, which can be a ramp or lift,” said VA Assistant Valuation Officer Mike Ostwald in St. Paul. “Those are the vast majority of the two ways we accomplish that task. 6
S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
The other area is your bathroom. We make a larger shower, what we like to call ‘barrier free.’ If you are in a wheelchair you can roll into your shower easily. We make adaptations around the toilet so if you have to transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet you have space to turn around in the bathroom.” Vietnam veteran John Meyers, of Pequot Lakes, called his finished bathroom a work of art. The grab bars meet his needs, the sink has space under it for his wheelchair, and water is kept in the shower with an almost imperceptible slope toward the drain instead of a tripping hazard. Qualifying for the grant has some requirements too. A veteran’s mobility issues must be 100 percent service connected and a veteran typically
The lift to the left replaced a nearly 40-degree ramp onto veteran John Meyers’ deck and into his home.
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Meyers enjoys cooking and making jerky, so wheelchair-accessible counter tops helped him continue to enjoy one of his hobbies.
must have specific mobility issues. Officially, the veteran generally needs to be confined to a wheelchair most of the time. “To be specifically eligible for veterans adaptive housing, you, in essence, either lost your legs or lost the use of your legs and require typically a wheelchair for a vast majority of your mobility,” Ostwald said. Meyers’ mobility issues stem from his exposure to Agent Orange in Da Nang as a Marine. Meyers has had 23 surgeries since 2000, including amputations due to osteomyelitis and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in his bones. As a result, he is missing most of his right foot, and his right leg below the knee. While he can, and does, sometimes walk with his prosthetics, for the past four years or so he’s preferred the stability of his wheelchair. On top of that, he has nerve damage, 8
was once paralyzed and more. “I’m missing one eye. Basically I’m the bionic turkey, no question about it,” Meyers jokes. Ostwald said during the last fiscal year, the VA issued 32 grants in Minnesota amounting to approximately $1.6 million. The grant was life-changing for Meyers. “It makes life a lot easier for me,” Meyers said. “It was expensive for the VA to do all of this, but it really made a difference.” He heard about the program while seeking information on a mortgage program. Meyers said several months after applying he received a call from John Eidel, senior appraiser for Specially Adapted Housing, which he had never heard of before then. “(Eidel) drove up from St. Paul and we sat at this table and talked for two hours about this program,”
S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
“I’m missing one eye. Basically I’m the bionic turkey, no question about it,” Meyers jokes. Meyers said. “I still wasn’t sure it was real. I had never heard of it.” Since that time, Meyers said the flooring is his favorite part of the project. “It was medium grade carpet or something,” Meyers said. “Pushing a wheelchair in carpet is very, very hard. When I was paralyzed I had a scooter that I ran around. Then I got fancy and I got a power wheelchair. The first time I took it into the bathroom I did my thing, spun
“You could pull a house down with those things,” said Meyers. (about trying to turn around in a powered wheelchair.)
around, went out and took out the door, the frame and half the wall. You could pull a house down with those things.” In addition, he no longer has to haul himself up a nearly 40-degree incline to enter his home thanks to a lift on his deck. He can now go from room to room without rubbing his
wheelchair and elbows on doorways and uses his bathroom and kitchen counter tops, which are wheelchair accessible. Meyers’ bedroom even has an emergency exit complete with ramp,
With wheelchair-accessible bathroom counter tops, custom grab bars and a shower that has no barriers for wheelchairs, Meyers called his bathroom a work of art when it was complete.
“So Long As There Are Veterans, The Benovolent And Protective Order Of Elks Will Never Forget Them”
Community Interests: Every other month a visit to St. Cloud Veteran’s Hospital to play BINGO
Disabled Veterans Turkey Hunt and the Disabled Veterans Deer Hunt at Camp Ripley Donate to Wreaths for the Fallen
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Educational Resources for Community Based Outpatient Clinic Veterans
Offer a free week of camp to 9-13 year old children of deployed soldiers at the MN Elks Youth Camp during Troops Week Free dinners every Tuesday night for Central Lakes College enrolled Veterans, Active Military, Reserves, Veterans and their families September thru March
Become a Member! Learn How, Visit www.brainerdelks.org www.brainerdelks.org
Brainerd Elks #615 215 S. 9th Street, Brainerd 829-2643 after 3pm S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
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PINE RIVER AMERICAN LEGION
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“They don’t care how you use the money, basically, as long as it is some kind of improvement ,” Meyers said.
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Front L-R: Nick Welle, Chad Shogren, Bill Agens, Tony Lewis, Darren Colgrove, Andrew Rowland, Dave Himle & Tony Collins. Back L-R: Justin Vredenburg, Rick VanGeest, Mary Roubal, Greg Hill, Ken Romig, Greg Maciej, Justin Jansen, Damian Broderson, Kim Hardy, Steve Ringstrom & BJ Schaumburg. Not pictured: Gaylin Smith, & George Dziedzic. 10
S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
without which he said a house fire may have been a death sentence for him. The grant is limited, basically, to changes that will make a real, measurable improvement in mobility. “They don’t care how you use the money, basically, as long as it is some kind of improvement for adaptive living,” Meyers said. “We’ll replace flooring,” Ostwald said “As you can imagine, carpeting takes a beating from a wheelchair perspective. A lot of times we replace it with tile or hardwood floor that is a much more friendly flooring. We widen doorways.” Overall, the program is designed to improve mobility for veterans and help them to live independently even in the face of disabilities. “All the improvements to the house add up to a good lifestyle, as good as it’s going to be,” Meyers said. “When you are disabled that’s what you have to say.” Meyers spoke especially positively of Eidel, who takes a personal interest in many of the qualified Specially Adapted Housing programs. “He got involved with the contractor,” Meyers said. “He knows building. He’s reasonable but he fights to make sure the job is to VA
standards. We need more guys like that in government.” The Specially Adapted Housing program has been available through the VA since 1948, but in 2001 the program was expanded to allow veterans to react to changing needs. “Then, shortly after Sept. 11, the powers that be thought in their wisdom that it would be best if we
could use the grant more than once and now you can use it up to three times,” Ostwald said. Prior to that time if veterans wanted some small addition to a home, say a handicap ramp and nothing else, they could not apply for the grant again if their mobility worsened, even if they had only used a portion of the budget allot-
“He’s reasonable but he fights to make sure the job is to VA standards. We need more guys like that in government.” (Meyers said of John Eidel, Senior Appraiser for Specially Adapted Housing).
ted to each veteran. There are some options for veterans who do not necessarily qualify for the Specially Adapted Housing program. Veterans are directed to contact their county veteran service officer. “The two programs within the VA that we work with or kind of in conjunction with is what we call HISA, the Home Improvement Structural Alterations,” Ostwald said. “Then there is a grant available for veterans, period. You get a certain amount if you are service connected and a certain amount if you aren’t. That’s through the VA hospital. Then there is Independent Living. That’s administered through Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.”
With Respect, Honor and Gratitude We encourage veterans to join our team
THANK YOU 001786518r1
Freedom is not free.
23103 County Rd 3, Merrifield, MN 218-765-3111 • www.clowstamping.com S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
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Rev. Paul Fruth Army 1960-1966; Vietnam War
Drew Olson Air Force
Clarence E. Smith Marines Deceased 9/7/2008
Mark Persons Army 1968-1969; Vietnam War
Scott Hall Army
Robert Kind Army 1959-1965
Arthur Nystrom Air Force 1944-1945; WWII
Wayne Christensen Army 1967-1968; Vietnam War
Bruce G. Lapka Navy Vietnam War
Jeff Volkl Marines 1989-1993
Lloyd Handeland Army WWII
PUBLIC WELCOME CROSSLAKE HWY 3 3PM - TUES., WED., FRI. 1PM - THURS., NOON SAT. HAPPY HOUR 3-6PM TUES.-FRI. Jr.’s BREAKFAST 9AM-NOON CLOSED Jr.’s MEXICAN NIGHT 4:30PM-CLOSE MEAT RAFFLE 5PM T-SHIRT TUESDAY Wed: BURGER 4:30-7PM Legion Thurs: PIZZA NIGHT 4:30-7PM Legion LEGION OPEN AT 1PM-CLOSE Fri: MEAT RAFFLE at 6:30PM Jr.’s Serving 5-9PM Sat: BINGO 1:30PM $1,000 POT Bingo Burgers 1PM-5PM Dinner 5PM to close
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In honor of our Veterans, on Tuesday, Nov. 13th your second drink will be free to thank you for your service. Thank you for letting us serve you so that we can continue to serve our veterans, military and community!
S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
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Sun: Mon: Tues:
Eugene Munson Navy WWII
Jack Van Horn Navy 1965-1969 Deceased
Art Van Horn Navy 1965-1969 Deceased 8/10/1970
Earl Van Horn Army 1971-1973
Dale Van Horn Sr. Navy 1965-1969
Dale Van Horn Jr. Navy and Army
James Van Horn Navy Deceased
Eugene Torvinen Navy Deceased 7/20/1993
Edward Torvinen Navy Deceased 10/8/1992
Jim Torvinen Navy
Kenneth Nystrom Air Force 1954-1974
Christopher Kraus Navy & Army 1992-Present
Richard L. Kraus Army 1969-1990
Raymond J. Geislinger Clarence L. Kraus Army Army WWII WWII Deceased 5/30/2012 Deceased 5/5/1996
Gene Worms Navy 1964-1969
Saturday, November 10, 2018 9:30am-4:00pm
218-829-4112
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THANK YOU!
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The staff at Martin’s Sport Shop in Nisswa would like to thank all of our Veterans and their families for their service. It is much appreciated.
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For more information 218-454-6954 Spring Show May 11, 2019
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702 South 5th Street (Use North or South Doors)
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S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
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Sitting at Culver’s in Baxter, Marvin Keogh — a Nisswa resident and veteran of the Korean War era — speaks to the Dispatch on everything from the Iron Curtain and high school football to farming in southern Minnesota. Photo by Steve Kohls.
Marvin Keogh
P
By Gabriel Lagarde
ublic service is a great monolith — multifaceted and imposing, it manifests itself in lives of people from all walks of life, all colors and creeds, all stars and stripes. Take Marvin Keogh for example. Lakes area resi-
dents have, doubtlessly, crossed paths with im on many occasions — the stocky octogenarian with a shock of white hair and an affinity for sports regalia.
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S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
Honoring All the Men and Women Who Have Selflessly Served Our Country
Happy Veterans Day!
16603 State Hwy 371 North, Brainerd/Baxter (Just North of the Pine Beach Rd)
schroedersappliance.com • 218-829-3624
We join all of America in celebrating the endearing principles on which our nation was founded. We proudly salute the men and women of our Armed Forces, along with their families, who defend those principles with courage and honor. 001788017r1
“A buddy of mine told me, ‘We should try out for the soccer team,’” Keogh said. Two highlights of being stationed in Deutschland? One came naturally to the red-blooded American — a passionate, well-reciprocated love affair with beer, which apparently was much safer to drink than water in post-war Germany, the brass advised. The second was an acquired interest — soccer, which young Keogh hadn’t played stateside.
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Born in Waseca in 1936, Keogh, 82, was the son of a mother who worked as a gas station bookkeeper and a father who worked for the state highway department. He moved often on account of his father’s profession -- first on his grandparents’ homestead in Waseca, then Waterville and Le Center and back to Waterville. He’s a Nisswa resident now that most of his wandering days are behind him. Keogh enlisted in the Army on Jan. 5, 1955 — a decision, Keogh noted, motivated in part by indications his draft number was coming up and by opportunities to take advantage of the G.I. Bill to fund four years of college. He quickly found himself in Dog Company, the 10th division, 86th regiment of the U.S. Army — first grinding it out in a tank platoon, then working as a clerk when he was stationed in Schweinberg, Germany, during the Korean War.
NMLS#410361
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“A buddy of mine told me, ‘We should try out for the soccer team,’” Keogh said. “I said ‘Uh, that sounds like a lot of running.’ Regimental soccer at 1 o’clock every afternoon.” It wasn’t all fun and games. Keogh lived and worked among the war-ravaged communities of Germany, which saw roughly 85 percent of its industry and urban centers obliterated by Allied bombing during World War II. By taking part in U.S. efforts in the region, Keogh witnessed the implementation of the Marshall Plan -- $12 billion (roughly $100 billion in today’s dollars) of aid to Europe that enabled countries including Germany, France and Great Britain to find their footing again after years of devastation. Much of these nations’ quick turnarounds into the prospering nations
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A lifelong sports aficionado — whether it’s baseball, soccer, basketball, football or others — Keogh bopped around Minnesota and Wisconsin in a number of roles... of today can be attributed to American gifts of treasure, talent and time during those years, Keogh said. And then, too, there was the looming threat of the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc — just a stone’s throw over the Berlin Wall into East Germany, said Keogh, who saw the wall for himself during the early years of the Cold War, when tensions between the world’s premier superpowers were starting to reach
S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
an icy head. A lifelong sports aficionado — whether it’s baseball, soccer, basketball, football or others — Keogh bopped around Minnesota and Wisconsin in a number of roles, but his home remained primarily in Mankato, where he garnered degrees at Mankato State University and went on to be a head football coach at various high schools in the area.
BRAINERD VFW POST 1647 309 S. 6TH STREET • 829-6393 OPEN EVERY DAY AT NOON!
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Did his military experience, with its emphasis on toughness, discipline and structure, influence how he coached? Pose the question to Keogh and he’d give a shrug — high school kids and soldiers are needed for and come from very different walks of life, he said, and to apply the same standards to both doesn’t work. “You have to be on the kids all the time about the training rules, things like that. When you get good kids and good parents, you don’t have problems,” Keogh said. “When we had a very good team, I had a couple kids I had to keep track of a little bit, and once in a while chew their fanny. Gosh they were good kids, good kids.” Then, that also speaks to a man whose way of coaching valued the inner growth of individuals over the accolades and performances of athletes. “I was more pleased with the kids that were average and they grew in the program and they were steady players. They weren’t All-American or All-State, but they were solid players,” Keogh said. “I was more pleased with, after they graduated, what they did. Some became lawyers, others dentists.” Keogh’s own military path came to revisit him, years later — decades after he left the service and even decades after he put away the coach’s playbook and retired at 62. He was invited to take part on an Honors Flight in 2015, pressed by his niece to join in a trip to Washington, D.C. The trip provides travel, a tour, accommodations and other services to veterans so they can view the various sights of the U.S. capital dedicated to men and women of uniform. Honors flights are funded and organized by nonprofits across the country and
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$1 Tacos at 5 pm Cribbage at 6 pm
WEDNESDAYS Wings 3/$1 Fries $1 Salads $1 4 pm–7 pm “500” Cards at 6:30 pm
THURSDAYS
DOLLAR NIGHT Burgers, Fries, Domestic Tap Beer $1.00/ea at 5:00 pm
HAPPY HOUR! Monday-Friday 12:00 pm-5:00 pm
218-828-2815 www.brainerdrental.com
Pull Tabs, Meat Raffles & wireless Internet always available. Charitable Gambling License # 00475. FREE Hall & Kitchen Rental to Non-Profit organizations.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Relax... We’ve Got You Covered!
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often function as chapters that encompass each state. One of three brothers to have served, Keogh’s siblings exemplified the mixed feelings that many have in regard to their service — his older brother was excited and honored to go on the Honors Flight, and his younger brother declined because such an experience might reopen old wounds from his experiences in Vietnam.
Veterans Day
Washington Monument and National Mall, Washington DC. Stock photo
Honoring All Who Served
2000 13th Street S.E., Brainerd, MN 56401 | 218-829-6680 | crowwingcountyfair.com
Good Neighbor Home Health Care salutes military veterans and their families for their dedication and the sacrifices they made to protect our country. It’s an honor to care for you.
We’ll be there. (218) 829-9238 | (888) 221-5785 www.gnhomecare.com
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S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
Having traveled a decent bit, Keogh said he’s seen a number of impressive sights — the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Buckingham Palace, and the Arc of Triomphe, among other wonders of the world — but his experience visiting Washington, D.C., and viewing the markers and monuments of prior American servicemen stands at an even higher echelon. “This Honor Flight tops all of them,” said Keogh, who spoke
Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Arlington national cemetary. Stock photo.
Having traveled a decent bit, Keogh said he’s seen a number of impressive sights... “This Honor Flight tops all of them,” said Keogh
Ken Solom Navy 1960-1966
Milton Munson Navy 1942-1945; WWII Deceased June 1977
Maurice Karst Navy 1956-1976
Kenneth Wischmann Navy 1950-1954; Korean War
Gunnard Freden Navy WWII
Dale Monson Navy 1944-1945; WWII
“Serving our Members since 1940”
804 Laurel Street, Brainerd, MN 56401 | 218-829-9065
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effusively of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial and other landmarks dedicated to the armed forces. “It was a highlight. I never expected that. It was quite an honor.”
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Ken Micko Army Air Corps 1942-1945
William (Bill) LaTour
William Skeesick Army WWII Deceased 11/29/2002
Richard A. Smith Marines 1969-1971
Richard Paul Klein Navy 1948-1952
Gilbert Bittner Marines Korean War Deceased 12/28/2014
Doug Wannebo Army 1970-1971; Vietnam War
Ben Monson Army 1942-1945
Carl Monson Army 1943-1946, 1948-1952
John E. Munson Army WWII
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Marines 1968-1969; Vietnam War
S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
Richard D. Tappe Air Force Deceased 7/7/2008
Lloyd “Pete” Romin Army 1944-1947 Deceased10/30/2016
Gary H. Peterson Army
Warren Welton Army WWII Deceased 10/21/2011
Robert C. MacKenzie William Eugene Bender Air Force Navy Deceased 6/12/2014 WWII
Harold Lachelt Army 1950-1953
Daniel Barto Air Force 1952-1956
LeRoy Siegel Army Korean War Deceased 1/8/1995
Clifford Barto Merchant Marines/ Army; 1944-1950, 1950-1952 Deceased 2/19/2018
Thank you to all of our Veterans for their Service to our Country and our People.
Celebrating
•LUNCHES Monday-Saturday •MONDAY - Burger Night •TUESDAY - Coney Dogs & Long Island Tea •WEDNESDAY - Progressive Bingo •THURSDAY - Wings Night •FRIDAY - Dinner Special & Meat Raffle •SATURDAY - Basket Food •SUNDAY - Progressive Bingo
Those Who Served
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HAPPY HOUR Tuesday - Saturday 4-6pm
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First row: left to right: 1st Sgt. Carroll M. Guin (head of the family), Stf. Sgt. Russell L. Swearingen (Chief Mech.), Stf. Sgt. Peter Clabo (Platoon Sgt.), Stf. Sgt. Robert E. Weygand (Platoon Sgt.), Captain E. B. Miller (Commanding Officer), 1st Lt. John S. Muir (Executive Officer), 1st Lt. Clinton D. Quinlen (Supply Officer), 2nd Lt. Edward L. Burke (Administrative Officer), 2nd Lt. Arthur J. Root (Mess Officer), Stf. Sgt. Charles A. Dunnell (Communications Sgt.), Sgt. Arthur W. Brown (Line Sgt.), Sgt. Boyce W. Hyatt (Line Sgt.), Sgt. Francis D. Davis (Line Sgt.), Sgt. Walter H. Samuelson (Line Sgt.). Second row: Sgt. Frederick F. Lowe (Line Sgt.), Sgt. David E. Karlson (Supply Sgt.), Sgt. Byron L. Veillette (Line Sgt.), Sgt. James L. Johnson (Line Sgt.), Sgt. Harlan H. Peterson (Line Sgt.), Corp. Milan E. Anderson (Company Clerk), Corp. Glen
H. Nelson, Corp. Walter B. Straka, Corp. James F. McComas, Corp. Wallace F. Goodrich, Corp. Donald H. Paine, Corp. Paul A. Saarinen, Corp. Lee D. MacDonald. Third row: Corp. Howard J. Larson, Corp. Kenneth J. Porwoll, Corp. Herbert F. Strobel, Corp. Maxwell S. Dobson, Pvt. Icl. Walter R. Davis (Cook-Spec. 4th Class), Pvt. 1cl. Warren T. Lackie (Radio Opr. and Gunner, Spec. 5th Class), Pvt. Arthur B. Thomas, Pvt. Harold A. Snell, Pvt. 1cl. William L Mattson (Tank Mech.-Spec. 4th Class), Pvt. James E. Bogart, Pvt. 1cl. Ross H. Burrows (Gunner and Asst. Tk. Driver, Spec. 6th Class), Pvt. Alpheus W. Brown, Pvt. Billie E. Brown, Pvt. Claude Gilmore. Fourth row: Pvt. George H. Roth, Pvt.1cl. John F. Falconer (Gunner and Asst. Tk. Driver-Spec. 6th Class), Pvt. Ferdinand
J. Frederickson, Pvt. Sid H. Saign, Pvt. John E. Pederson, Pvt.1cl. Arthur J. Gattie (Gunner and Asst. Tk. Driver-Spec. 6th Class), Pvt. Wince L. Solsbee, Pvt Orvin C. Carpenter, Pvt. Lawrence R. Alberg, Pvt. 1cl. Pearlie L. Clevenger (Tank Engine Mech.-Spec. 3rd Class), Pvt. 1cl. Kenneth R. Gorden (Gunner and Asst. Tk Driver-Spec. 6th Class). Pvt. Robert E. Swanson (Gunner and Asst. Tank Driver-Spec. 6th Class), Pvt. Harvey L. Finch, Pvt. Frank E. South. Fifth row: Pvt. 1cl. Henry F. Turner (2nd Cook-Spec .5th Class), Pvt. 1cl. James R. Clevenger (Gen. Mech.-Spec. 4th Class), Pvt. John C. Spornitz, Pvt. 1cl. Raymond E. Fox (Gunner and Asst. Tk. Driver-Spec. 6th Class), Pvt. 1cl. Wallace C. Lee (Radio Opr. And Gunner-Spec. 5th Class), Pvt. August Bender, Pvt. John J. Allen, Pvt. Melvin D. Ahlgrim,
Pvt. 1cl. Richard E. Davis (Gunner and Asst Tk. Driver-Spec. 6th Class), Pvt. Wesley J. Kerrigan, Pvt. Ernest M. Gorden, Pvt. Clifford D. Rardin, Pvt. Icl. Ralph M. Hollingsworth (Tank Mech. spec.4th Class). Sixth row: Pvt. 1cl. Glenn S. Oliver (Radio Opr. and GunnerSpec. 5th Class), Pvt. Carl M. Kramp, Pvt. Willis A. Bjornstad, Pvt. Henry G. Homberg, 1cl. Clarence L. Goninan (Tank Engine Mech.-Spec. 3rd Class), Pvt. Ernest F. Brusseau, Pvt. Henry G. Peck, Pvt. Roy E. Maghan, Pvt. Floyd J. Munger, Pvt John B. Joosten, Pvt. 1cl. Gerald J. Bell (Radio Opr. and Gunner-Spec. 4th Class), Pvt. Joseph P. Lamkin (Gunner and Asst. Tank Driver-Spec.6th Class). Not in picture: Pvt. Roy M. Nordstrom 001667218r1
Richard Kelly Army 1950-1951; Korean War
Donald Hyatt Army Deceased
Boyce W. Hyatt Army Deceased 1984
Loyd L. Hyatt Army Deceased 2000
H. Dale Shanks Navy & Marines 1951-1954; Korean War Deceased 9/14/2017
Von V. Hyatt Air Force Deceased 1998
Loyal M. Hyatt Army 1953-1955
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We want to Thank Our Veterans
Thank you for you r
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service !
S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
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edina realty 218-851-5595 jeremymiller@edinarealty.com www.thebrainerdlakesarea.com
Brian Bade Navy 1969-1973
Leonard Bade Navy 1944-1946 Deceased 8/18/2002
Glen Anhorn Army 1972-1975
William A. Miller Coast Guard Deceased 3/20/2006
Arron Richard Stoen Army Reserves Deceased 6/18/18
Ronald Pankratz Navy 1952-1956
Julius St John Knudsen Army 1941-MIA
Laurie Hall 326 W. Laurel St. Brainerd, MN
FOR YOUR SERVICE
(3 blocks South of Walgreens)
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Vernon Wehage Army 1973-1977 Deceased
James Sipper Marines 2011-2014; Iraq
Theodore Olson Army 1959-1966
Merle Monson Army 1942-1945
from all of us at
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S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
William Leonhardt Air Force 1965-1969
Ole Monson Navy 1944-1945
Robert G. Hurst 1951-1954; Korean War
Robert J. Stock Navy 1954-1981
Jackson Knapp Marines 2016
Jeff Knapp Marines 2008-2012
Kyle Carner Army 2007-2015; Iraq
Earl Johnson Air Force 1954-1958
Tim Johnson Air Force 1982-1986 Deceased 6/16/2012
Eldon Warburton Army/National Guard 1954-1994 Deceased August 1995
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Crosby Native Annie Adams serves with Versatile U.S. Navy Helicopter Squadron, “Dragon Whales.” Photo By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Gary Ward.
Annie Adams
A
By RICKY BURKE
2007 Crosby-Ironton High School graduate and Crosby, Minnesota, native is serving with the U.S. Navy Helicop-
ter Sea Combat Squadron 28 in Norfolk, Virginia.
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S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Annie Adams is an aviation electrician’s mate serving with HSC 28, known as the “Dragon Whales.” A versatile squadron that’s capable of completing a number of important missions for the Navy with the MH-60S “Seahawk” helicopter. A Navy aviation electrician’s mate is responsible for evaluating and fixing electronic components in support of the command mission. “I really enjoy the satisfaction of working together with my fellow sailors accomplishing the tasks at hand,” Adams said. Adams credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Crosby. “No matter how limited the resources are around you, it does not limit what you can achieve or where you want to end up at in life,” Adams said. Dragon Whales operate the MH60S Seahawk and deploy with the Second, Fifth and Sixth Fleets to provide critical mission support.
“I love the family atmosphere and camaraderie that I have among my fellow sailors, there is a tightknit family atmosphere here,” Adams said.
“Becoming a leader has given me the motivation and mindset to want to give back to others and better myself,” Adams said. Their capabilities include drone recovery, special operations aerial training, cargo and passenger transport, and fleet support to Navy, Air Force, and Army units along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. HSC 28 consists of 14 aircraft, 267 enlisted Sailors, and 51 officers. At sea, they perform vital vertical replenishment (VERTREP); crucial passenger, mail, and internal cargo transport; and continuous search and rescue operations. “I love the family atmosphere and camaraderie that I have among my
fellow sailors, there is a tight-knit family atmosphere here,” Adams said. Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Adams is most proud of becoming a leader and helping junior sailors thrive in their career. “Becoming a leader has given me the motivation and mindset to want to give back to others and better myself,” Adams said. Operational and deployed today with the U.S. Navy as the primary
Dear Veterans, We salute you and honor all who have served our country. We pause to remember and give thanks. 001635236r1
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Emily Brannock Navy Gulf War
Sid Tousley Navy 1957-1962
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Gordon Schulke Navy WWII
Charles Brunes Navy WWI Deceased 11/4/1978
S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
Denny Polich Navy 1942-1946 Deceased 8/29/2018
Norbert Eugene Rau Navy 1943-1945 Deceased 8/8/2008
“Serving in the Navy means having pride in being a part of an organization that protects our freedom and our loved ones,” Adams added. anti-submarine warfare anti-surface weapon system for open ocean and littoral zones, the MH-60R Seahawk helicopter is the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter. It is the most capable naval helicopter available today designed to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers. The MH-60R Sea Hawk is over 60 feet long, and can weigh up to 23,500 lbs. It is replacing the Navy’s older helicopters because of its greater versatility and more advanced weapon systems. As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied upon assets, Adams and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes, one that will provide a critical component of the Navy the nation needs. “Serving in the Navy means having pride in being a part of an organization that protects our freedom and our loved ones,” Adams added.
Veterans Day Recognition Program 100th Anniversary of WWI Armistice signing
November 11, 2018 11AM Keynote speaker Baxter Mayor Darrel Olson
CROW WING COUNTY
ALL VETERANS MEMORIAL 326 LAUREL STREET, BRAINERD, MN
Crow Wing County Courthouse and the US Post Office (4th and Laurel Streets) Please Join us for coffee and breakfast after the program at the Eagles Club 124 Front Street, Brainerd, MN 56401
DonorBrick PROGRAM FUNDRAISER
Go online to www.brickmarkersusa.com/donors/avm.html and Facebook: Crow Wing County All Veterans Memorial 4x8 brick $75/brick - 3 lines per brick- 20 letters per line 8x8 brick $150/brick - 6 lines per brick - 20 letters per line In addition to each installed brick, you will receive a commemorative certificate.
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For more information: Please contact Nancy Cross 218-829-9079 email:crossnancy99@gmail.com
Norman Loven Army 1945-1946
Jim Stafford Navy 1984-1988
Sean Stafford National Guard 1997-2017
Brandon Stafford National Guard 2009-Present
Loren Edward Smart Marines 1969; Vietnam Deceased 7/15/2012
John Kirchmeier Navy 1948-1968 Deceased 2004
Donald McCarthy Air Force WWII Deceased 3/3/1996
Jack Sticha Army 1966-1969
Darrell Sticha Air Force 1965-1969
Kenneth Kielty Army 1948-1952 Deceased 4/9/2018
William H. Fleisher Army Deceased 8/19/2018
William Weik Army 1969-1970
Robert P. Cook Army Air Corps WWII Deceased 10/3/1987
Steven Kuhn Army Deceased 4/24/1999
Alfred E. Kuhn Army 1954-1955; Korean War Deceased 6/7/2017
Roy L. Schellin Army/ Air Force 1942-1945 Deceased 3/6/2012
Michael Danger Army 1964-1968 Deceased 5/1/2018
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Jeff A. McCarthy Army 1974-1976
Jack Olson Army 1967-1969
Clarence L. Warner
Arthur Bialka Marines 1951-1953
Kevin Goedker Marines
Wilbert Gildart Army 1972-1973; Cold War
THANK YOU
Army 1943-1946 Deceased 1/30/2013
VETERANS AND FAMILIES
Donald Gates Navy 1948-1952 Deceased Sept. 2000
Dondelinger Auto Stands With and Supports Our Past & Current Military With Special Offers From Chevrolet & Hyundai
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Oscar Marsch Army WWI
Merle (Bub) R. Burns Jr. Army Deceased 11/11/2012
Gilbert L. Lowe Air Force WWII Deceased 12/25/1983
Michael Lowe Air Force Vietnam War 1970-1974
David L. Anderson Air Force 1967-1971
Sean Deist Marines 2000-2004
Dan Strong Army
Robert Loehlien Marines 1944-1945; WWII
Dennis G. Havel Army 1967-1968; Vietnam War
Howard “Jiggs” Blanck Army 1956-1958 Deceased 12/01/2009
Kevin Kiehlbauch Army 1976-1982
Duane Blanck Marine Corps 1960-1963
Christopher Groenwold Marines 2003-2007
Oliver Ness Army 1942-1946; WWII Deceased 10/21/1955
Howard Doucette Army
Marvin Schoenike Army 1954-1956; Korean War Deceased 7/22/2014
Travis Nelson Army Reserve 2008-Present
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S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
Danny Price Marines 1973-1977
Jason Price Marines & Army Guards 1997-2003; 2003-2005
Duane A. Roberts Marines WWII Deceased 2/18/2015
Mitch Johnson Air Force 1997 - Present
Meryl Alters Army 1950-1953; Korean War
Daniel M. Bubalo Air Force 1942-1946
William Threlkeld IV Army National Guard
Deceased 6/15/1997
Thank you
218.829.2020 001784856r1
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Scott Hall and his wife Tessa Hall hold their 5-year-old daughter Maren. Hall was an Army Reservist with the 367th Engineer Battalion and was deployed to Afghanistan. Submitted photo
“SOLDIER ON” Husband and father survives Afghanistan but at a cost
W
By FRANK LEE
hen Scott Hall left Afghanistan, the Army Reservist thought he left the battlefield behind him. He was wrong. The 39-year-old husband
and father from Baxter has battled post-traumatic stress disorder ever since his tour of duty was over.
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S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
“November of 2003, our unit — the 367th Engineer Battalion at St. Cloud, Mankato, Duluth and Brainerd — all got mobilized, and we were told that we’d be going somewhere after the first of the year,” Hall recalled. “We invaded in 2001, and when we got there — we improved runways, we built the big prison, built roads, did a lot of that stuff … and a lot of mine clearings, so a part of our unit cleared out landmines to make space for more troops.” The 367th Engineer Battalion provides support to combat units
“A part of our unit cleared out land-mines to make space for more troops,” said Scott Hall.
Hall helps unload donations that will be sold as part of Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity’s fundraising efforts. Photo by Frank Lee
through food service, supply, maintenance, personnel and a construction platoon consisting of carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians, surveyors and draftsmen. Hall was in Afghanistan from May 2004 until May 2005. “A large part of it was to build up the different bases during that time,” said Hall, manager of the Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Brainerd.
“My job in the military, I was an administration specialist, so myself and six or seven other people were in charge of all 560 people, so we did all their evaluations, all their awards, their mail, and we had to account for every person, every day, and report that to our headquarters.”
AFGHANISTAN
Hall said he was in charge of “morale, welfare and recreation,” which
To our veterans... Love where we live!” 001785474r1
“ We
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The 39-year-old husband and father from Baxter, has battled post-traumatic stress disorder ever since his tour of duty in Afghanistan was over. Photo by Frank Lee
meant keeping the troops’ spirits up in a hostile, unfamiliar and possibly fatal work environment like Afghanistan. “We weren’t in direct combat situations … but there were quite a few rocket attacks that we had. One of them was really close to hitting us. It hit the compound next to us,” he said. The reservists based in Brainerd joined other troops in Operation Enduring Freedom in the Middle East. They were deployed in February 2004. About 129 soldiers from five states left Brainerd in the deployment. “Even though I was an admin person and mostly in an office, there were a couple of times that I went out on different missions to bring the mail out to people, and one of the helicopters I was riding on ended up engaging something … and that 38
was pretty scary,” Hall said. The 367th Engineer Battalion was the largest Army Reserve unit to mobilize since Operation Desert Shield in 1990. They were the single largest Army Reserve unit to mobilize in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom in Minnesota. “It wasn’t like I was knocking down doors like some people, but, yeah, it was still a hostile environment, and you’re always taking care of yourself and making sure that you don’t let your guard down,” Hall said. The constant threat of being killed took a toll on Hall and others in the military. Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can occur after a person goes through a traumatic event like combat, assault or disaster, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
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“You don’t realize at the time just how much stress you were under — or you weren’t aware of it — until you get home...” -Scott Hall
“...Now...a big diesel truck pulls up, it automatically transports me back to when I was in Afghanistan.” -Scott Hall with, I felt really safe and really confident in their abilities,” he said. According to the VA, between 11 to 20 out of every 100 veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year. “You don’t realize at the time just how much stress you were under -or you weren’t aware of it -- until you get home, and I didn’t even know really that I had PTSD until probably within this last year, when I was officially diagnosed with PTSD,” Hall said.
MENTAL HEALTH
The mild-mannered yet physically imposing veteran seemed at home
among the furniture, fixtures and building supplies at ReStore, which he has been with for more than a dozen years. “I had been to the VA in Brainerd in 2008 and saw somebody, got some help for awhile, was good for a couple of years, kind of went back in 2013 and started talking to another mental health provider, got onto
some different medications at that time.” “One thing that causes me the most flashbacks -- and it’s something that most people don’t think of -- but in Afghanistan, one day I was tasked with going down to the front gates on Bagram Air Base … but while I was down there, there was a lot of diesel smoke,” Hall said.
To All our Veteran's -
Thank you for your Service and Commitment to our Freedom!
Walker, Akeley, Longville, Remer, Hackensack Backus, Pequot Lakes, Crosslake, Baxter
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Hearing a car backfire might bring back memories of gunfire for a combat veteran, who may also avoid crowded places like shopping malls because it feels dangerous to be around so many people, according to the National Center for PTSD. “Luckily, I have my faith, which plays a big part in my life. I was born and raised in the Lutheran church, so my faith -- and a lot of family and friends back home helped, but also, too, some of the people that I served
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“I was born and raised on a farm in North Dakota, and I’ve been around diesel fuel, diesel smoke, and it didn’t bother me, but now sitting at (highways) 371, 210 stoplights, and a big diesel truck pulls up, it automatically transports me back to when I was in Afghanistan.” Hall’s symptoms of PTSD include, he said, tightness of chest, sweaty hands and replaying the incident for days, but since seeking treatment, he has learned many mindfulness and deep breathing exercises that allow him to live in the now. “Just kind of telling yourself, ‘You’re OK, you’re in a safe spot, you’re not in Afghanistan,’ and you just repeat it to yourself,” said Hall, who receives treatment from the VA periodically.
Hall said he had a “major anxiety attack” the day after Christmas last year based on his time in Afghanistan. “One time, when we were in Afghanistan, we were sleeping, and all of the sudden it comes over the loudspeaker there’s a red alert, which means that there’s somebody on base that shouldn’t be. So they found out that an Afghan had cut through the wire and was on base,” Hall said. “Two-man teams were sent out, go to the bunkers, account for everybody, they sent out dogs all over the place trying to find these people.” In December, Hall admitted he needed help dealing with his time in Afghanistan and entered the Residential Rehabilitation Treatment
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Thank you for your service!
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On County Road 3 in Downtown Crosslake • 218-692-2711 S LUTE Veterans Day • November, 2018
“I was scared to death to go into the treatment program in St. Cloud, but it definitely saved my marriage, my job and it gave me a lot better perspective on life and coping mechanisms.” -Scott Hall Program for PTSD in St. Cloud for their 45-day recovery program. “I would say I’m doing a lot better. My wife Tessa and I have been going to counseling to understand PTSD, what I’ve been going through. My family, my wife -- she had no idea about any of these stories or struggles. I just carried it along with me for this long,” Hall said. “I wanted them to think that my time in Afghanistan was just behind the desk, that I wasn’t in any danger, but I’ve learned that I would encourage other veterans to just get the help that they need.”
Veterans Crisis Line: 800-273-8255 (and press 1)
Chat online:
www.VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat
Texting Option:
text 838255 for confidential support around the clock.
GETTING HELP
“It was really tough to think, ‘What is Habitat going to think, what is my family going to think? Are they going to judge me? Am I weak?’ Guys aren’t supposed to show their feelings and stuff like that,” Hall said. “I was scared to death to go into the treatment program in St. Cloud, but it definitely saved my marriage, my job and it gave me a lot better perspective on life and coping mechanisms.” Veterans and their supporters were reminded by Brainerd VA Clinic officials that if warning signs are noticed, call the Veterans Crisis Line at 800273-8255 (and press 1), chat online at www.VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat or text 838255 for confidential support around the clock. “Some veterans don’t want to go to the VA because they’ve heard horror stories of the long wait times or whatever, but I was taken care of very well and have nothing but good to say about the VA system,” Hall said.
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James D. Morgan Army 1973-1977; Korean War
Harry Brickheimer Air Force 1933-1970 Deceased 2002
John P. Morgan Army WWII Deceased 9/11/2004
Steven J. Morgan Army 1988-1991
Robert Welsch 1953-1954; Korean War
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John R. Morgan Army Korean War Deceased 12/21/2006
Harley L. Ellis Army 1973-1975
Warren D. Morgan National Guard
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thank all Veterans for their service and sacrifice. We honor you today, and every day, and are forever grateful!
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HELPING FAMILIES FOR OVER 25 YEARS. Accra provides support to families that need help in their homes for a loved one with a disability. We’ll help you navigate the different services available to you. One of our services, PCA Choice, allows you to choose a family member or friend to be your paid caregiver.
VETERANS, WE ARE
thankful FOR YOUR SERVICE!
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Call our Brainerd office and ask about the possibilities!
218-270-5905
SERVING PEOPLE STATEWIDE www.accracare.org