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ESGR Banquet
May 21, 2012
Minnetonka | |
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NTM-A,
C Co. 1-171 and
Ag. Dev. Team
30/60-Day and FRA
June 2, 2012
Metro Area | |
Reintegration event and Family Readiness Academy |
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HQ 1/34 BCT,
1/34 BSTB,
TUAS and
C Co. 1-171
30/60-Day
June 24, 2012
Metro | |
Reintegration event |
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1-94 CAV 30-Day
June 30, 2012
Duluth | |
Reintegration event |
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Laketrails Base Camp
June 30 - July 8, 2012
July 10-18, 2012
July 29 - Aug. 6, 2012
Aug. 7-15, 2012 | |
Special offer for military teens |
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Camp Gratitude
Week of July 4th, 2012
Camp Tanadoona | |
Free for military families |
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1-125 FA 30-Day
July 8, 2012
Mankato | |
Reintegration event |
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HHC 1-194 AR,
A Co. 1-194 AR,
B Co. 1-194 AR,
C Co. 1-194 AR,
D Co. 1-194 AR and
134 BSB
30-Day
July 14, 2012
St. Cloud
July 15, 2012
St. Cloud | |
Reintegration event |
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2-135 IN 30-Day
July 21, 2012
Rochester | |
Reintegration event |
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Minnesota National Guard Youth & Teen Camp, Weeks 1 & 2
July 22-28, 2012
Camp Ripley
July 28 - Aug. 4, 2012
Camp Ripley | |
For children of Minnesota National Guard Servicemembers |
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1-125 FA and
2-135 IN 60-Day
Aug. 4, 2012
Mankato
Aug. 5, 2012
Rochester | |
Reintegration event |
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HQ 1/34 BCT,
TUAS, HHC BSTB,
A Co. BSTB,
B Co. BSTB,
C Co. BSTB and
1-94 CAV
60-Day
Aug. 11, 2012
Metro
Aug. 12, 2012
Duluth | |
Reintegration event |
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Camp Voyageur
Aug. 12-16, 2012
Mound | |
Military youth ages 8-14 |
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134 BSB,
A Co. 1-194 AR,
B Co. 1-194 AR,
C Co. 1-194 AR,
D Co. 1-194 AR and
HHC 1-194 AR
60-Day
Aug. 18, 2012
St. Cloud
Aug. 19, 2012
St. Cloud | |
Reintegration event |
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Military Appreciation
Day at the
Minnesota State Fair
Aug. 28, 2012
Falcon Heights | |
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Strong Bonds
Single Soldier
Retreat
Sep. 7-9, 2012
Brainerd | |
Register here |
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Thousands of Soldiers return home | |
During the past month, nearly 3,000 Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen returned to Minnesota after serving in Afghanistan and Kuwait during the past year.
More than 2,700 Soldiers returned with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division after a year-long deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation New Dawn.
"This brigade has the distinction as being the largest deployment of the Minnesota National Guard since World War II and for supporting the final phase of the Iraq War during Operation New Dawn," said Lt. Col. Kevin Olson, Minnesota National Guard director of public affairs.
Approximately 45 Soldiers from the National Training Mission-Afghanistan also returned after a year-long deployment.
"These Soldiers were involved in training, coaching and mentoring Afghan Security Forces, Coalition Forces and the Afghan Army in counterinsurgency operations," said Army Maj. Gerald D. Halloran, mobilization readiness officer for the Minnesota National Guard.
Soldiers from C Company, 1-171st General Support Aviation Battalion and Soldiers from the Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (TUAS) Platoon also returned after a year-long deployment to Afghanistan.
"Twenty-one Soldiers from C Company provided medical evacuation support by use of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters," said Halloran. "Twenty-one TUAS Soldiers provided unmanned aerial reconnaissance collection and analyst support to the U.S. Central Command while deployed."
Finally, 14 firefighters from the 133rd Civil Engineer Squadron return last month after a 6-month deployment in Southwest Asia.
Although these Soldiers and Airmen have reunited with their family, the deployment cycle hasn't ended. They will now participate in 30/60/90-day the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Initial Reintegration Training. To register for the training, please visit the Joint Services Support website. For more information about reintegration training, please visit http://www.btyr.org/training. | |
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AmericInn Cares |
 AmericInn, a national hotel chain, held their annual convention in Minneapolis during the last week of April. The conference, attended by more than 400 employees, included a packaging event for military families. They prepared gift items that included bicycles and tote bags stuffed with games, toys and other items promoting family time. Previously, AmericInn had sent thousands of care packages to deployed Servicemembers, but this time chose to focus on the families.
AmericInn also invited Beyond the Yellow Ribbon to speak to its employees. Annette Kuyper, director of military outreach, accepted the invitation and offered words of inspiration and motivation during the packaging event.
"Taking care of their families is what deployed Servicemembers treasure the most," Annette said. "Coming together to create these care packages is a great way to show your support. Thank you for taking the time from your busy schedules to make a difference in the lives of our Minnesota military families."
After the event, the gifts were shipped to the Anoka and Bloomington armories, ready to be distributed to military families that would soon gather for the arrival of their loved ones. As members of the 1st Brigade Combat Team arrived via bus, their loved ones were anxiously waiting with gift bags and teddy bears in hand.
"The gifts were very well received by the families," said Master Sgt. Dave Denton, yellow ribbon outreach coordinator for Dakota and Washington County. | |
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Purple Up! For Military Kids Day | |
April marked the Month of the Military Child, a time to honor youth impacted by deployment.
In celebration, Operation: Military Kids invited everyone in Minnesota (and across the country) to wear purple for "Purple Up! For Military Kids Day" on Friday, April 13th to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices.
Purple is the color that symbolizes all branches of the military, as it is the combination of Army green, Coast Guard blue, Air Force blue, Marine red and Navy blue.
Groups across Minnesota wore their purple, including 6th graders in Maple Grove; students at St. Mary's School in Worthington; employees at Foley Mansfield, Minnesota School of Business in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota School of Business in Elk River and the University of Phoenix Minneapolis/St. Paul Campus; and even Soldiers currently deployed!
We want to thank everyone for spreading the word about Purple Up! Day and for wearing your purple to show your support for our amazing military kids! For more information on OMK, visit our website at: www.operationmilitarykids.org. |  |
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"What's Your Yellow Ribbon Story?" is a new Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign focused on sharing stories about the amazing things Yellow Ribbon Networks across the state are accomplishing. It's an opportunity for Servicemembers, military families and volunteers to tell their stories.
Click on the "What's Your Yellow Ribbon Story?" banner above to read the first three stories.
If you share your Yellow Ribbon Story with Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, we'll be sure to tell your story on Facebook! You can submit your 200-300 word story and photo by email. | |
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The Importance of Yellow Ribbon Networks |
 Minnesota has seen nearly 3,000 Servicemembers return from deployment in the last month. With this influx of Soldiers, Yellow Ribbon Networks are shifting gears in order to support military families as they reunite and reintegrate with their families. Dean Markuson, the community initiative coordinator for the Hastings Yellow Ribbon Network, points out the importance of the networks as Servicemembers return. "The community may need to take care of resilience, risk reduction, suicide prevention, difficult relationships, mental health, substance abuse, unemployment and financial or legal issues," said Dean. "We must be cognizant of the programs available and how to utilize those resources." In order to help with those issues, the Hastings Yellow Ribbon Network is hosting a forum for Servicemembers and the community, scheduled to take place Flag Day, June 14, at 5:30 p.m., at the Nelson Lucking American Legion Post 47. "As a community, it is extremely important that the Beyond The Yellow Ribbon initiative be connected and engaged with community partners, continue to lead by example and remain committed to our Servicemembers, Veterans and families well being," said Dean. "It's more than a labor of love, but an appreciation of community service and supporting the service and sacrifices of those who served and the community," said Dean. | |
Last month, a surprised Amy Hanson received a congratulatory email notifying her that she had been selected as a recipient of the 21st Annual Invest Northwest Award. Amy, the chairperson of the Brooklyn Park Yellow Ribbon Network, was unaware that she had been nominated for the award that recognizes individuals, organizations and businesses that have made significant volunteer contributions in the Northwest Hennepin area.
"I can't believe my community nominated me for this," Amy said. "And I can't believe they are giving this award to me!"
Amy was nominated by Gerry Gibbs, part of the steering committee for the Brooklyn Park Yellow Ribbon Network. The criteria for the award included demonstrating innovation and creativity in improving the lives of others, arranging sustained activities working to improve people's lives over a period of time, inspiring others to get involved and displaying visible evidence of progress resulting from the nominee's activities.
"Amy is a military wife, and in speaking to her you will always hear her pride and commitment to the military," Gibbs wrote in Amy's nomination. "Amy brought together a core network of leaders and volunteers who make up the [Brooklyn Park Yellow Ribbon Network] steering committee."
In the nomination, Gibbs also mentioned how Amy help put together a fundraiser for a Soldier who was injured in a car accident. While in a coma after the accident, the Soldier's son was born. The event raised $4,000 for the young family.
Amy was one of four presented with the Invest Northwest Award during the 2012 Annual Event for Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council May 9. | |
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Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network | |
 Congratulations and thank you to the Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network!
Their volunteers packed, prepared and shipped 28
care packages to the USS Cole this month!
"I had the distinct honor of passing out your gifts to the crew. Every package was received with big smiles and a heartfelt, 'Thank you!' It's the simple things, like getting your care packages that break up routines and lighten up the day. Again, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for all that you have done for the crew of USS Cole," said MA1(AW) Joshua Datka
They also received coins along with the following message from Gen. John Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul, Afghanistan!
"Thank you for your support for the family of a member of my staff, and for the support that the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization provides all service members. Without a strong home front, our service members can become ineffective. But through your selfless efforts, you have helped immensely on the home front, and you have helped keep us an effective force here in Afghanistan."
Way to go Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network! |
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