Mail Call: State ends bronze veterans markers

In 2024 a long-standing program of the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs was discontinued due to a loss of state funding.

This program provided a bronze star shaped grave marker that would be placed at the graves of veterans who had passed away the previous year.

Winona County was to have received 52 markers for those veterans that had passed away in the county in the year 2024.

The Sons of the American Legion squadron of the Leon J. Wetzel American Legion Post 9 in Winona were greatly disappointed to hear of the situation. The placing of these grave markers is a final sign of respect to a deceased veteran and their military service to our country and to their surviving family.

SAL Squadron 9 decided that this deficiency needed to be corrected. The members voted to approve purchasing markers to cover the immediate need and to begin fundraising and soliciting donations from local businesses and the public to help purchase additional markers as needed. Indications are that state funding for this program will not be restored in the foreseeable future.

SAL Squadron 9 greatly appreciates the following groups and businesses that have contributed to this project,

American Legion Riders Chapter 9, United Auto Workers Union 958, Merchants Bank, Midwest Metal Products, WNB Financial, Hoff Funeral Home and Oakwood Bank in Rollingstone.

Donations can be sent to SAL Squadron 9, 302 E. Sarnia St., Winona, MN 55987 and will go directly to purchasing these markers, which cost approximately $58 each. Any help is greatly appreciated in providing this small token of appreciation to the military veterans of this great country that have gone before us.

The needs for an additional 42 grave markers have been purchased to cover the needs for 2025 veterans as well.

Brian Tomashek

Winona Squadron 9