As far as Chief Warrant Officer Dan Britz knew, he and his finacee Heather Alm were going to a Timberwolves game with his company commander.  Soon after, their dinner was free and they were being upgraded to courtside seats as part of Operation Minnesota Heroes night.

Then after the first quarter they were brought up to the microphone and learned they had won a $55,000 wedding package courtesy of the Timberwolves', Minnesota FastBreak Foundation.

The Timberwolves traded the wedding package for a $100,000 Executive Suite package as the 19th trade in, "The Big Trade Up," a project aimed at securing 10 scholarship commitments for the Minnesota non-profit, Mind the Future.

Minnesota FastBreak volunteers remembered meeting Dan at a Pheasant Hunt in Hugo last fall for military veterans. When this opportunity arose they called on Beyond the Yellow Ribbon to help them track Dan down so they could give him a Thanksgiving to remember. 

Britz deployed with the 1256th MED Co. in support of Noble Eagle in 2005 and with C Co. 2-211th as a UH-60 MEDEVAC helicopter pilot in 2008. He is currently an Aeromedical Evacuation pilot in St. Cloud.

He and Heather plan to wed next August.

Returning home from Iraq, one Minnesota Servicemember discovered that his troubles were just beginning. After losing his job and his home, he had no way to support his young family. He did still have his military ID, however, and with it, he brought his wife and young kids to the free movies sometimes offered at Camp Ripley. Their dinner consisted of free popcorn that was provided to movie-goers.

Because of the struggles returning Servicemembers often face, the 1st Cavalry Division Association, Walter H. Westman Northland Chapter, has spent the last five years collecting more than $58,000 to help Servicemembers and their families.

"We put on gun and knife shows," said president David LaPlante, "Donations collected go to grocery gift cards to Cub [Foods] and Walmart, depending on what the Family Assistance Center needs."

The Family Assistance Centers then identify the Servicemembers in need and distribute the cards accordingly. One Servicemember and his family helped by the gift card donations was the one who returned from deployment and lost his home and job.

"[We get] lots of thank you cards saying, 'We wouldn't have made it without the help,'" said LaPlante, "It goes right back to the Soldiers."

To see how you can help, visit, www.BeyondTheYellowRibbon.org.

The United States has long suffered casualties of war and there is always somebody left alone to bear the brunt of the loss. That's why in 1945, Gold Star Wives of America was founded to provide service, support and friendship to the widows and widowers of Servicemembers who died on active duty.

And now, after 55 years of providing a support network and enhancing the benefits widows and widowers receive, Congress has designated Dec. 18, 2010 as Gold Star Wives Day.

"Whereas the Senate has always honored the sacrifices made by the spouses and families of the fallen members of the Armed Forces of the United States," reads the 11th Congress's Resolution.

One such spouse to endure that sacrifice was Donna Engeman, who was living on an Army installation when her deployed husband lost his life in Iraq. Her transition from happy wife and mother to struggling widow and provider was not easy, especially after her husband's pay stopped and she was given 30-days notice to find new housing in the civilian sector.

Having recognized the shortcomings of the Army's casualty assistance programs, Donna bluntly voiced her thoughts to Army Chief of Staff General George Casey at 2009's Survivor Outreach Services Summit. The exchange resulted in her being appointed to a new committee, and she helped develop policy changes that allowed widowed spouses to stay on military installations up to three years and increased compensation benefits.

Donna's story epitomizes the work that Gold Star Wives of America have been doing since World War II, and Survivor Outreach Services is proud to honor Gold Star Wives Day on Dec. 18.

While most of us spent last Saturday shoveling out after the big snow storm, Sergeant Michelle Maxwell, a Soldier with the 347th Regional Support Group in Roseville, met Brett Favre.

The meet and greet opportunity came from Jeff Tesch, a Regional Sales Manager for AcuSport Corporation in Waite Park. Tesch donated the weekend getaway that included a two night stay in Minneapolis, complimentary dinners, a pheasant hunt and the chance to meet Favre.

Tesch was proud to be able to give the trip to a deserving Minnesota Servicemember. "First let me say that my family and I truly appreciate your service to this county!," he said to Maxwell. "I often travel through several airports for work and I am always touched when I see soldiers heading to or returning from active duty and I am so thankful for the personal sacrifice that you and your fellow Soldiers make being away from family and friends."

Maxwell was deployed to Iraq for about a year in 2005 at the young age of 18. Last year she assisted Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, sharing her deployment story in a training documentary for Minnesota National Guard Servicemembers on Mental Wellness in our ranks. The video won a Telly Award and was nominated for two Midwest Regional Emmys in a large part to Maxwell's part in the video.

When asked what it was like to meet Favre, the legendary Viking quarterback Maxwell said, "He's got really big hands."

AcuSport is the leading distributor of outdoor and shooting sports products in the nation. Not only is AcuSport dedicated to the shooting sports industry, their company is a strong supporter of community involvement. 

Minnesota National Guard State Youth Coordinators (SYC) and Operation Military Kids (OMK) will hold the first Yellow Ribbon Teen Panel Dec. 17-19 in St, Cloud, Minn. The mission of the Yellow Ribbon (YR) Teen Panel is to empower military teens to be a part of the planning process in supporting military connected youth in Minnesota. 

In order to support their mission, the first ever Yellow Ribbon Teen Panel will attend three days of meetings and activities. Two 4-H subject matter experts will be leading the teens through the various activities. This weekend the teens will lead the meetings in which the teens will decide the location and theme of the Teen Summit, plan a human service project, plan an outing and decide on speakers for the outing.

The teens were selected for the panel based on criteria established last summer by their peers. The goal for the panel is to have the teens take the lead while OMK and SYC give guidance. The panel is part of a larger effort to connect military families throughout Minnesota.

For more information on the Yellow Ribbon Teen Panel visit, www.BeyondTheYellowRibbon.org/family-wellness.

The Farmington Yellow Ribbon Network held their second annual Cookie Walk at a senior citizen assisted living center in Farmington earlier this month. During the cookie walk, participants brought two dozen cookies; one dozen were set out on a table where participants were allowed to fill up a tray with as many cookies as they pleased.

The other dozen were taken to a back area where they were prepared, wrapped and delivered to area military families. Last year 18 trays were delivered, this year the number was improved upon with 42 trays being delivered, along with extra cookies being delivered to the full-time staff's at three local armories.

Participants, as well as the senior citizens who live at the center were invited to drink coffee and cider while enjoying the delicious cookies as they helped provide a heart-warming thank you to military families.