The Minnesota Legionnaire Volume 102 Number 7 Veterans Strengthening America July 2020 CVSO Masks … on the double group Quilts of Valor out of Dent, Maine Twp., marks Fergus Falls fulfills 75 years orders for veterans DENT — Five thousand four hun- dred masks. Organization From a partnership between Quilts works toward of Valor and The American Legion. For veterans and staff at VA hospitals consistency and state veteran homes. All made by a dedicated group of NEW ULM — This is the 75th quilters. year of the Minnesota Association This is patriotism in action during of County Veterans Service Offi- the age of COVID-19. cers, but their plans for the big year Quilts of Valor members award were wiped out by the COVID-19 quilts to veterans “touched by war,” pandemic. but when it began in 2004, the quilts But you know how a first con- went to veterans who experienced vention takes place in the zero year? combat in the Global War on Terror. That mean the That morphed over time to GWOT MACVSO 75th veterans wounded physically or psy- convention hap- chologically. Then to any war. Then to pened last Sep- its present phrase “touched by war.” tember, in the The state coordinator for Quilts of 74th year of the Valor is Jenny Caughey, and she is Mary Ann Strauch, left, and Debra Larsen, center, remove fabric cut in the shape of facemasks from organization. one of 33 members of the Dent-based the AccuQuilt fabric cutter on June 2, while Janelle Lotzer sets the pieces on a cutting mat. “Who would group of quilters, and they call them- have thought selves Comfort for Courage. Dent is that the next about 10 miles away from Perham, and year we would the members are from around those have to cancel Greg towns. They work closely with two our gatherings Peterson other Quilts of Valor groups in the area: marking the an- Fergus Falls and Maine Township. niversary?” said MACVSO President Fergus has about 80 quilters and Greg Peterson. calls itself Caring Hearts. Maine has a Funny enough, the MACVSO little more than 20 and goes by Loving bylaws say they must have an annual Hands. meeting, and Peterson hopes that can Like many quilters, they aren’t ones be accomplished online. The bylaws to tout their story. They create and give specify voting with paper ballots, so and create and give and create and give they will have to address that aspect. some more, because the two actions The county veteran service officers make them feel good inside. It’s not help veterans, but, as a professional about getting ink in the newspaper or society, MACVSO helps the county the attention of the community. veteran service officers. Peterson But Caughey is a big advocate for said the organization is developing her dedicated volunteers and she told a a vision, with goals and objectives. brief history of the Comfort for Cour- “We want all CVSOs to operate age group of women. consistently on a core set of stan- By 2008, they had created and given dards,” Peterson said. quilts to many of the qualifying vet- For example, the Minnesota De- erans in their area. They contacted Paulette Hoebelheinrich of Fergus Falls drops off finished masks at the Dent Community Center on partment of Veteran Affairs sends Andy Riewer, whose brother, Greg, of June 2. The Quilts of Valor group in Dent gets them to The American Legion’s distribution network, Continued on Page 2 Continued on Page 10 bringing them to veterans’ medical care facilities across the region. Vets organizations desire to be heard by lawmakers By Tim Engstrom congressionally chartered Veterans Affairs Committee, veterans-related legislation veterans organizations, and and Ecklund is the chairman. approved. ST. PAUL — The Min- the chairman, Paralyzed Ecklund said every veter- Dettmer said the main nesota Commanders’ Task Veterans of America Vice ans-related bill went through piece of funding the Legis- Force, a body that meets President Todd Kemery, had the House Veterans Affairs lature secured was $6.2 mil- monthly and pushes for invited House and Senate Committee, then went else- lion in COVID-19 grants for veterans-related legislation, leadership to the June 16 where to die. veterans financially impacted voiced their displeasure discussion held virtually “This whole COVID by the pandemic. (See story and frustration with lack of over Zoom. thing just upset the whole on Page 2.) Lawmakers also access to state lawmakers at Instead, District 39A Rep. apple cart,” he said. secured $250,000 for the their June meeting. Bob Dettmer, Republican The Legislature took a Medal of Honor Memorial “I’m very concerned that Rob and Legion member with five-week hiatus when the Bob outside the Veterans Service other interests will take the Ecklund Forest Lake Post 225, and pandemic restriction began Dettmer Building in St. Paul. day next year,” Robert Hart, District 3A Rep. Rob Eck- in mid-March. He said the Legislature legislative director for The American lund, DFLer and International Falls He said if there is a session in July in June approved $62.5 million in Legion Department of Minnesota, told resident whose Legion membership — and now, one is expected, as Gov. grants for small businesses impacted lawmakers on June 16. is with Crosslake Post 500, joined Tim Walz would like to see a bonding by COVID-19, of which $2.5 million The CTF is made up of nine the meeting. Both serve on the House bill passed — there is hope for getting Continued on Page 2 Page 2 Minnesota Legionnaire July 2020 2020 Fall Conference Official Registration Mail to: There’s Roberta Nyquist Nisswa American Legion plenty o’ P.O. Box 427 Nisswa, MN 56468 money in Registration sliding fee: Registration received by Oct. 1: $15 the COVID Registration received after Oct. 1: $20 Registration fees are for each person attending, grant fund except for Junior SAL and Junior Auxiliary members. ST. PAUL — Minnesota Please copy and send a separate form for each person Department of Veterans Affairs attending. All delegates, alternates and guests must Deputy Commissioner Brad pay the registration fee. Lindsay said veterans still can apply for grant money if they Please indicate “Fall Conference” on the memo line. have been financially impacted Please make checks payable to: Breezy Point Resort was a popular place for the rich and famous in the Roaring 20s. by COVID-19. Today, it features a convention center, three 18-hole golf courses, a boat marina, an “There’s still money avail- Nisswa Post 627 ice arena, four restaurants, four bars, cabins, condos and a resort hotel. able,” he said. “We would like to spend it by the end of the cal- Conference dates: endar year, but we’ve got it until Oct. 22-24, 2020 June 30, 2021, technically.” Fall Conference is on Lindsay said the best way for Headquarters hotel: vets to apply for the grant right Breezy Point Resort now is to see their county veteran 9252 Breezy Point Drive service officer, who then helps Breezy Point, MN 56472 for Breezy Point Resort with the forms. The MDVA also NISSWA — The 2020 Department Conven- the Legion rates. It is $110 a night for standard has a website at minnesotavet- Contact the hotel directly for your reservations: tion planned for July and the 2020 National rooms with two queen beds, two double beds eran.org/covidrelief. www.breezypointresort.com • 800-432-3777 Convention planned for August were cancelled, or one king bed with a pullout sofa. It is $149 The Minnesota Legislature, __________ _________ _________ __________ along with Spring Meetings, Boys State, Girls a night for suites with two double beds or a when passing the late March District Post Unit Squadron State, Legion Baseball, Legionville, Veterans king bed with a pullout. It is $149 a night for COVID-19 relief package, al- Day on the Hill and on and on and on, so it’s a a lodge apartment, too, which has two doubles located $6.2 million for veter- Name__________________________________________________ given Legion members across Minnesota will and a pullout. ans impacted by the statewide be happy to see each other again at the 2020 There are three-bedroom and two-bed- COVID-19 shutdown. Address________________________________________________ Fall Conference, slated for Oct. 22-24 at Breezy room condos. People can call or email for The MDVA administers the Point Resort in Nisswa. availability. funds, and the amounts are City___________________________ State____ Zip___________ The Fall Conference is the Legion Family’s Online registrations are preferred by Sept. 15. $1,000 for the Disaster Relief annual school of instruction. Please see the reg- The group coordinator password is BLK253750. Grant and $3,000 for the Special Email__________________________ Phone_________________ istration form to the left. The inquiry email is mmorris@breezypoin- Needs Grant. Participants should make their own reserva- tresort.com. The website is www.breezypoin- The first kind goes to Min- tions and should ask for Block 253750 to get tresort.com. The phone is 800-432-3777. nesota statute-qualifying veter- ans impacted financially by the pandemic. The second is a one- Veterans treatment courts would save $1.3 million in 2 years time assistance to a qualifying Continued from Page 1 veterans courts. as a pilot program started in “At this point, it seems like a the streets to safety before the veteran or surviving spouse in must go to veteran-owned It almost passed in 2019, 2008. The MDVA and CTF fishing expedition to find fault, protests and riots occurred in financial trouble, and the money businesses. Walz later signed dying in conference committee, want it all across Minnesota to find reasons not to support Minneapolis and St.