Post 594 endorses Yanchury for chaplain

Daniel R. Olsen Post 594 in Eagan has endorsed the Rev. Cynthia “Cindy” Yanchury for chaplain of the Department of Minnesota for the 2026-27 term.

She is a past post chaplain who now serves as post adjutant and chaplain for the 3rd District. Yanchury entered seminary in 1989. Upon graduation, she was commissioned for ministry in 1995 and ordained in 1998. She served three churches and retired in 2022 from Advent Church in Eagan. However, she kept going after retirement and served a fourth church in St. Anthony Village for three years.

“I still follow that call to do occasional pulpit supply and often officiate funerals for a local funeral home, especially for veterans and their spouses,” she said.

Yanchury grew up in the south metro and enlisted in the Navy two days after graduating high school. She got the duty she sought — Coronado Island, San Diego. She was stationed there for 1 1/2 years, then it was off too Adak, Alaska, for another 1 1/2 years.

After the service, she and her husband moved to Connecticut to attend college and she served in the Navy Reserve. After graduation, she moved back to Minnesota as a single mother.  To supplement her income, she enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard and was company clerk for the 47th Military Police Company. She was “deputized” to be an acting MP when a female was needed. She remarried. They remained married for 37 years until his untimely passing in 2019. They have three grown children and one grandchild.

Yanchury joined The American Legion in 1999 as an Army and Navy veteran of several war eras — Vietnam to Global War on Terrorism. She resides in Eagan.

“I would like to serve as the department chaplain as a way to continue serving God and Country. My vision is to provide resources and training for chaplains at the post level, helping them to feel comfortable in this important role — reminding each of us that we are beloved and we each