Beyond the yellow ribbon - Your fort Minnesota
Fort Minnesota ExpressJuly 2010 Vol. I, No. 11
In This Issue
3M display
Next gen MFCI
ESGR awards
Washington Co. award
New FAC
Join Our Mailing List
Click Here to Sign Up
 Events
Fort Minnesota Express is your family's link to what's going on Beyond
 the Yellow Ribbon.
 
 

CVSO Booth 30-Day

ETAB 60-Day
July 17

60-Day Reintegration Event in the metro  
 
 

NG Youth Camp Logo

National Guard Youth Camp
July 18-24

Camp for military children at Camp Ripley
 
 

MFCI Event
July 28

First Lady's Military Family Care Initiative event throughout Minnesota
 
 

reintegration

204th, 114th & OMLT II 30-Day
July 31

30-Day Reintegration Event in the metro  
 
 

Operation Purple Logo

Operation Purple Camp
August 1-6

Camp for military children in McGregor
 
 

MIRT

1-151 & ETAB 90-Day
August 6-8

90-Day Reintegration Event for 1-151 and ETAB 
 
 

Operation Military Kids

Operation Boots Off Camp
August 7-8

Camp for military children at Hartley nature center in Duluth
 
 

Disabled Veterans Rest Camp

Operation Family Camp
August 27-29

Camp for military children at Ironwood Springs Ranch in Stewartville
 
 

reintegration

204th, 114th & OMLT II 60-Day
August 28

60-Day Reintegration Event in the metro  
 
 

homecoming

MIRT
September 11

MIRT in the metro for any Servicemembers needing to complete a reintegration event
 
 

CVSO Booth 30-Day

CBWTU Training
September 12

Training for wounded warriors and family members
 
 
3M erects display in honor of Servicemembers
Fallen Soldier Conor Masterson's flag is placed in the 3M display, his parents and Tim McElroy look on
3M display
3M, a Yellow Ribbon Company, recently erected a prominent display at their corporate office as a tribute to Servicemembers and veterans.

"I believe the display honors, informs, and generates support for so many of our military 3M staff and their families," said Tim McElroy, a 3M program manager.
 
As a Yellow Ribbon Company, 3M wanted to raise awareness for their employees serving in the Guard and Reserves and their employees who are veterans.  They wanted to create a stronger alliance or connection between those who are serving and their coworkers, the display was one of many things 3M has done to contribute to that goal.
 
 "The display is a daily reminder for employees here in St. Paul, that there are those among us who are protecting our freedom and national security besides working at 3M," said McElroy, "It also becomes an integral part of the larger community as we bring customers to 3M and vendors who are working here."
 
The display also represents a lasting legacy for generations of 3M employees to view and encourage their fellow employees to become a part of the 3M military support network.
 
"There is a tremendous amount of gratitude for having a military support network at 3M. I believe that every time a military member walks by the display, they see, they sense, they know, that a part of them is represented and depicted on that wall," said McElroy.
 
At the center of the display rests the flag of fallen Soldier, Corporal Conor Masterson. Conor died in Afghanistan in 2007. Both of his parents are 3M employees.
 
For more pictures of the display visit the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Picasa photogallery by clicking here.
First Lady to announce next generation of Military Family Care Initiative

First Lady Mary Pawlenty announces the MFCI in 2003
First Lady Mary Pawlenty
Since 2003, Minnesota First Lady Mary Pawlenty has provided support to military families through The First Lady's Military Family Care Initiative (MFCI).

The initiative is a web based program designed to help military families during deployments by uniting community organization with military families to provide volunteer services for the loved ones of deployed Minnesota Servicemembers.
 
Mrs. Pawlenty will announce the next generation of the Military Family Care Initiative on July 28, 2010 in communities throughout Minnesota.
To find out more information visit, www.BeyondTheYellowRibbon.org.
Minnesota ESGR Employer Awards
By Chris Campbell (Republished from the ESGR Newsletter)
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis McCarthy presents Governor Tim Pawlenty with the Secretary of Defense Award for Exceptional Public Service
Over 400 employers, military members, and leaders from the military, government and business joined Minnesota Employer support of the Guard and Reserve  to honor Minnesota employers who provided the most outstanding support to their employees who also serve in the Reserve Components (RCs) over the past year.  They were joined by Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis McCarthy, National ESGR Chairman James Rebholz, Adjutant General of Minnesota Major General Larry Shellito, two live bald eagles from Minnesota's Raptor Center, and news anchor Don Shelby.
 
The event was the Minnesota Annual Employer Award Banquet, and featured several unique aspects that made it unforgettable both for the employers honored and the military members who nominated their employers.  During the playing and singing of the national anthem, the Raptor Center brought one of their bald eagles, a symbol of America, on stage.  Next, there were several special awards presented to individual and organizations who, while not actually employing Guard and Reserve members, have contributed greatly to them.  Media personalities Mike Morris, a radio host and former athlete, and news anchor Don Shelby were both honored. 
 
Also notable were two Statement of Support signings, from the publishing giant Thomson Reuters and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).  These two organizations not only signed the document, but did so in front of a crowd of hundreds, including their governor and Secretary McCarthy.
 
Twenty-seven employers were given "Above and Beyond" awards, and three employers were honored the ESGR's highest state-level award, the "Pro Patria."  The three recipients off this honor were from the categories of small employer (under 500 employees), large employer (over 500), and public organization.  They were, in order, McGough Construction of St. Paul, Target Corporation of Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis Police Department.
 
In addition, Secretary McCarthy presented Governor Pawlenty with the Secretary of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service.  The toast State Chair Monteen offered at the start of the program perhaps summed it up best - an event creating "a culture in which all Americans support and value the military service of the Citizen Soldiers who serve in our armed forces, their families and their employers."
Washington County Award

Washington County will be recognized in the Fourteenth Annual Awards Ceremony during the 75th annual conference of the National Association of Counties (NACo) on July 18.  The award is in recognition of an effective and innovative program which contributes to and enhances county government in the United States. 

The Yellow Ribbon Network of Washington County has worked closely with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon to pull together schools, faith-based communities, businesses, service agencies and other organizations that support Servicemembers and their families.
 
"The 2010 NACo Achievement Award for the Yellow Ribbon Network of Washington County is recognition to the County Government from their peers. It is quite an honor and one well-deserved. The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program wouldn't be anywhere near its current size and scope without the pioneering work of Commissioner Gary Kriesel and many other Washington County employees," said Bob Livingston, executive director of the Washington County Yellow Ribbon Network.

The county board provided leadership and coordination with members of the community and local governments to help create the network within Washington County.  Washington County is proudly home to 130 Soldiers deployed from the Minn. National Guard in 2009, as well as being home to other personnel who are on active duty within the other services.
New Brookly Park FAC specialist welcomed
Brooklyn Park FAC Specialist Carl Madsen
Although the Brooklyn Park Family Assitance Center (FAC) is sad to see Nina Bregel go, they are pleased to welcome Carl Madsen as the newest FAC specialist in Brooklyn Park.
 
FAC Supervisor Mike Farren said he is happy to have Madsen onboard and said that Madsen brings great experience to the table.
 
"Carl comes to us with a vast background which includes a 21 year career in the Minn. National Guard where he retired as a Major, having deployed twice in support of Operation Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom," said Ferren.

Hero Bears help put military kids at ease

For one young military child it was hard to fathom his mother going away for a day much less a year to serve her country. Before leaving for deployment the Soldier and her son were given the opportunity to build a hero bear together while talking about why she was leaving.
 
The comfort his mom provided him while building the bear seemed to resonate through into the bear. The boy clutched the hand of that bear throughout her deployment, never losing sight of it as it became a memory of his mom and a comfort to him whenever he thought of her.
 
Upon returning the mother was surprised to see the bear still in the boys arms, although the bear now resides on a shelf in the boys room, it like the boy and his mother did its duty and both mother and son were grateful for those who helped provide them with the bear.
 
If you are interested in donating toward providing hero bear kits for military children you can mail a check with "hero bear" in the memo line to:
Family Programs
C/O SGT Amy Smith
8180 Belden Blvd.
Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Copyright �2010 Minnesota National Guard and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon All Rights Reserved.
www.BeyondTheYellowRibbon.org