2nd District Commander’s Report

Welcome from the Sensational 2nd District!

Many of my fellow district commanders and district National Security & Foreign Relations chairs had a great time at Camp Ripley the weekend of Sept. 12-14. Friday night we had a nice get-together at Little Falls Post 46 in beautiful downtown Little Falls. A meal was made especially for us. We renewed old friendships and made new ones.

The next day we had breakfast with the soldiers training that weekend, then proceeded to a classroom for introductions and training. We were a diverse bunch, with only the Coast Guard and Space Force not represented, if my memory serves me correctly.

Tallied up, we had around 250 years of service among us. The post command sergeant major gave us a briefing, and then we were off on a bus tour of cantonment and the State Veterans Cemetery. While we were at the cemetery we looked up Sue Edwards in the columbarium and paid our respects. I did not know the lady, but it is evident she was a devout Legionnaire and was loved by many.

A fellow Brewster Legionnaire, Bryan Bourquin and his wife, Legion Auxiliary member Tammy Bourquin, are at rest in the columbarium also. God bless their souls.

After another fine Army meal at the chow hall, we boarded the bus and went downrange to look over the training areas and ranges. A stop by the state-of-the-art Camp Ripley Fire Department capped off the tour.

Some visited the new museum; I went for a walk and reminisced of the time spent there over the years. That evening we had a fabulous grilled steak meal prepared by master griller James Kellogg, and a nice evening of camaraderie.

Sunday morning, we had another scrumptious Army breakfast and met in the classroom, before being released to help at the American Legion booth at the Camp Ripley Open House. They expected 3,000 visitors, and it looked like it was that many or more. We all had a great time talking about the American Legion to whoever was interested, young and old alike.

I highly recommend attending this event if you have not already, so much to learn, so many to enjoy being in the company of.

If you know of someone who is an outstanding enlisted person, please nominate them for the Outstanding Enlisted Person of the Year. This a high honor for whoever receives it, let’s make sure our fine servicemembers are recognized. Nominations can be done online at mnlegion.org/national-security-foreign-relations/.

For God & Country