Chaplain: Farewell to our favorite Navy captain
Welcome to springtime in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. As the farm fields are planted and the city folk’s gardens are sowed, we can pray for an exceptional weather pattern for corn, soybeans and produce to feed many — and for pheasant growth, my favorite past time in the fall.
My fellow Post 550 member, Tim Engstrom, and I delivered approximately 1,200 U.S. flags to the Veterans Campground on Big Marine Lake. Thank you, Manager Ken Larson, for the tour of the 200-unit campground, with cabins available to rent.
If you’re interested in renting, they book up fast. At Big Marine Lake, many flags from around Minnesota will be retired on Flag Day, June 14, by the local Boy Scouts. June 14 is also the birthday of the U.S. Army! Happy Birthday!
The campground will celebrate 100 years the weekend of Memorial Day, too.
Bingo at the Minneapolis Veterans Home was on April Fool’s Day, but there weren’t any April Fools jokes because the veterans, families and staff take their bingo very seriously. Thanks to the Bloomington Post 550 comrades who volunteer every month, for bingo.
We welcome new volunteers for bingo. It’s always the first Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m. Come on down and join the fun!
On Sunday, April 12, the Bloomington Veterans Honor Guard presented the American flag and military flags at Cmdr. Christopher M. Schmid’s U.S. Navy Change of Command Ceremony at the Navy Reserve Center Minneapolis.
Cmdr. Schmid was promoted to captain during a flag ceremony and reception at Bloomington’s Veterans Club (home to VFW Post 1296 and American Legion Post 550). I offered a prayer for the captain’s safe travels to Virgina. Thank you to Lt. Marcus Walden and his staff for an amazing ceremony!
Schmid was the 2nd vice commander for Post 550, and the commander for VFW Post 1296. We will miss his camaraderie and leadership.
I was proud to see Post 550 members Paul Hassing and Tim Engstrom present a $4,000 check from Bloomington Post 550 to National Commander Dan K. Wiley for the National Commanders’ Project. Next month, I will share my experience at Minnesota American Legion College.
A duty of any chaplain is to visit, call or send a letter to any comrade that is being hospitalized or homebound with an illness. Please give a fellow comrade and their family a prayer.
“Almighty God, Heavenly Father, we come before you today to lift up our brothers and sisters in the American Legion Family who are currently ill, injured or in the hospital. You are the ultimate healer and source of strength. We ask for your divine, healing touch upon their bodies, to mend what is broken and restore them to full health. We pray for their comfort during this time of pain and uncertainty. Ease their anxiety, soothe their fears, fill their hearts with a profound sense of peace — a peace that passes all understanding. Amen.”
Jim Mead of Bloomington Post 550 is the chaplain for The American Legion Department of Minnesota.