Veterans

Go to Veteran tries  to connect with distant relative’s POW experience

Veteran tries to connect with distant relative’s POW experience

In 2019 I drove 3,300 miles and 72 years into the past when I connected with my paternal biological family. Thanks to DNA technology I suddenly I had five new brothers and a new sister whose unconditional love and acceptance have been amazing. Over the past five years they’ve shared history of our family with me. As a youth, I spent four years in the military, so when I learned that I had a distant relative, Andrew O. Grignon Jr. who was a Japanese prisoner of war (POW) during WWII, I had to learn more about him.

Go to Claim shark bill advances out of Minnesota House veterans affairs subcommittee

Claim shark bill advances out of Minnesota House veterans affairs subcommittee

Bill author Emma Greenman of Minneapolis said the state government can’t solve the difficult of the VA disability claims process, but it can solve the for-profit aspect of claim sharks.

Go to Date set for Veterans Day on the Hill

Date set for Veterans Day on the Hill

Veterans Day on the Hill is held by the Minnesota Commanders’ Task Force — which is the Legion, VFW, DAV and five other congressionally chartered veteran orgs — and brings together about 600 veterans from all across Minnesota to advocate for veterans legislation.

Go to Commander: Political motivations only aim to divide veterans

Commander: Political motivations only aim to divide veterans

Eighteen American Legion Family members from Minnesota traveled to Washington, D.C., this week and heard directly from VA Secretary Doug Collins. He spoke with Legionnaires from across this nation Monday at the Washington Hilton during the American Legion Washington Conference.

Go to Walls go up at new military museum site

Walls go up at new military museum site

CAMP RIPLEY — Walls are up at the new Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum.

Go to DSO: Minnesota welcomes American Legion’s deputy director of claims and benefits

DSO: Minnesota welcomes American Legion’s deputy director of claims and benefits

On Monday, Jan. 13, we had the privilege of hosting American Legion Deputy Director of Claims and Benefits Philip Du at our VBA Regional Office and American Legion National Claims Office, located in the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building at Fort Snelling.

Go to Meet the new executive director of Eagle’s Healing Nest

Meet the new executive director of Eagle’s Healing Nest

SAUK CENTRE — A Marine and Army veteran is now leading Eagle’s Healing Nest, a 124-acre campus where veterans reside in an environment with peer-to-peer physical and mental healing.

Go to Commander’s Project is at 49 percent

Commander’s Project is at 49 percent

His project raises money for the the Veterans Defense Project, a nonprofit that defends veterans and aims to expand veterans courts across the state and nation.

Go to VA’s St. Paul Regional Office covers western half of the United States

VA’s St. Paul Regional Office covers western half of the United States

FORT SNELLING — As of October, 115,172 Minnesota veterans or their survivors received a monthly VA benefit. That comes to $166 million a month. For the year, the total is 1.99 billion.

Snowmobile ride for vets is on Feb. 15

GRAND RAPIDS — All veterans are welcome to enjoy a day snowmobiling, including lodging and meals at the annual Veterans Appreciation Ride.

Guest columnist: LSS CORE provides support for veterans, families

Military service can have a long-range impact on service members and their families. From managing financial concerns to maintaining healthy relationships or caring for loved ones with a disability — active service, deployment and returning to civilian life each have their own challenges.

Go to Service officer: ‘We all could very easily be in her position’

Service officer: ‘We all could very easily be in her position’

SHAKOPEE — One of Marissa LaCourt’s neighbors in Farmington wanted to get rid of his wife’s old car after she purchased a new one.