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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
Couples Retreats
June 15-17, 2012
Metro
June 22-24, 2012
Metro
July 20-22, 2012
Metro
July 27-29, 2012
Metro
Aug. 17-19, 2012
Metro
Aug. 24-26, 2012
Brainerd | |
Register here |
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Strong Bonds
Single Soldier
Retreat
Sep. 7-9, 2012
Brainerd | |
Register here |
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Faribault proclaimed Yellow Ribbon City |
Faribault was proclaimed the newest Yellow Ribbon City at a Yellow Ribbon Proclamation Ceremony held at Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault on June 1.
Minnesota-native and Shattuck-St. Mary's alumni, Chief of National Guard Bureau, Gen. Craig McKinley, addressed the crowd with a simple thank you.
"Your efforts to recognize, honor and embrace our Servicemembers, National Guard, reserve and active-duty alike, are nothing short of spectacular," McKinley said. "My message today is simply thank you. Thank you for lending a hand. Thank you for setting a standard for others to emulate."
"When they signed up to serve this nation, there wasn't a line and there shouldn't be a line when they come home," said Klobuchar. "That's what Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is about. When they need a job, education or healthcare, there shouldn't be a line."
The process of becoming a Yellow Ribbon City isn't a simple one. The Faribault Yellow Ribbon Steering Committee had to develop a sustainable action plan demonstrating their commitment to Servicemembers and military families.
"They have completed the 16-step process that guides them through identifying and developing resources for military families in all key areas of their community," said Director of Military Outreach, Annette Kuyper.
Although the process requires significant effort, nearly 150 other Yellow Ribbon entities have proven that this program is worth the hard work.
"The outward showing of support by this community eases the burden for military families, eases the transition from warrior to citizen and builds a stronger and more compassionate community," said Kuyper. | |
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Meet your FAC Specialist | |
Deb Brumbaugh has worked as a Family Assistance Specialist for the FAC (Family Assistance Center) for the past 8 ½ years. Starting at the Brooklyn Park FAC back in Jan. 2004, she now works in the St. Cloud FAC which is in the St. Cloud Minn. National Guard armory.
As the wife of a Vietnam veteran, who also was a career member of the Minn. National Guard, she knows that it is not only the Servicemembers who serve and sacrifice for our country, but their families as well.
"Over the course of many deployments, I've assisted Servicemembers and their families with a wide variety of questions and issues, to include: financial resources, counseling referrals, TriCare information, parenting resources, household issues, connections to community support, and sometimes just a confidential listening ear when things are feeling stressful," Brumbaugh said.
No two days working at the FAC are the same but she says that every day is rewarding. To find your local FAC specialist, visit www.BeyondTheYellowRibbon.org/family-assistance-centers. | |
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Minnesota Military Teen Panel |
Calling all Minnesota Military Teens! The Minnesota Military Teen Panel welcomes all military connected teens ages 13 to 18 to the 2nd Annual Minnesota Military Teen Summit June 24-26, 2012 at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud. Come and take a break from your busy life and have fun with us!
Participants will have the opportunity to see national speakers, take part in a community service project, have workshops on Military 101 and teambuilding, go on an outing to Skatin' Place and much more!
For registration forms, visit BeyondTheYellowRibbon.org or www.operationmilitarykids.org (MN). Fore more information contact Laura Groeneweg (laura.l.groeneweg.ctr@us.army.mil) or Amber Runke (runk0014@umn.edu). | |
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Camp Onomia | |
Anticipation, separation and reintegration; all a part of military family life. Having served in the Marines, Army Guard and currently the Air Guard, for the last 23 years Scott Eitel and his family know it well. Those proud years of service took him from Saudi Arabia to Spain, while back at home Becky his wife and eventually 6 children, kept things moving on the homefront. But five years ago, Scott's family was impacted by an experience that sparked his drive to be an advocate for Military Family Camp.
"There are many camps out there who will put a child of a military family through camp, but the camps who will support the entire family are hard to find," Scott said. "Camp Onomia provided this program for our family."
Once they arrived, Scott said the camp staff were waiting for them in the parking lot. They helped carry their things and showed them around. Scott was impressed with the "service" aspect and it continued the entire time his family was there. Camp Onomia provided a room, three meals a day, crafts, boating, water skiing and jet skiing. Scheduled activities that included the Indian Museum and a canoe and bicycle trip, created memories and family time to reconnect.
Scott said that a truly important part of camp was fellowship with other military families and his 11-year-old son Clayton agreed.
"I learned how to do a lot of things at camp like water skiing and making friendship bracelets," Clayton said. "We looked forward to a little time to take the sad off of our minds."
The "sad" referring to when their father was away. The boys all mentioned a particular time when dad was deployed.
"I always remember when we had that family meeting and he broke it to us. I would get the "Night Catch" book out every night and read it [while he was gone]," said Nathan, the youngest child.
He remembered thinking that it was the longest distance their dad had been away and Travis, one of the twins, made sure he stayed connected by drawing pictures of him in the water.
"This type of program [family camp] is very helpful to those who have been through the difficult challenges a military family might face on a day to day basis," said Scott.
In his book, "Building Resilience", Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, MD, said, "Outside the nuclear family, children need connections to multiple groups of friends, relatives, community and the world."
Scott really enjoyed his first experience with camp, saying, "Veterans can talk of experiences with those who have been through things, [at family camp] and their family members can share with each other their experiences on the home front."
Camp Onomia is in Onamia, Minn. and is run by a faith community who provides this Military Family Camp free of charge. The nonprofit fundraises $350 of support per family, at one time nearly 150 Military members were in attendance. For more information www.CampOnomia.org. | |
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"What's Your Yellow Ribbon Story?" is the 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 past 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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Lots of Reintegration Events |
 One of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon's main priorities is support and training for Servicemembers and their families.
"Regardless of whether this is your first, second or third deployment, each reintegration is different and can present its own challenges," said 1st Sgt. Ron Stenger, Deployment Cycle Support operations noncommissioned officer in charge. "In addition, these events allow you the opportunity to ask questions openly."
From June through August this summer, the Deployment Cycle Support team is putting on more than a dozen reintegration events. In many cases, they rely on local Yellow Ribbon Networks for volunteers and assistance with events.
The service providers also play a huge role at events. In many cases, they volunteer their time to make sure families have answers to all of their questions. Thanks to some of those who come out to nearly every event - Minn. Workforce Center, Minn. Department of Veteran Affairs, Federal Department of Veterann Affairs, Military One Source, Military Family Life Consutants, Transition Assistance Advisors, Minn. State Colleges and Universities, Chaplain Corps, Tri-West, Minn. Department of Revenue, County Veteran Service Officers and Sexual Assault Response Coordinators. | |
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Community welcomes home the troops |
 | | Photo from left to right: Don James, Donnelle Grodahl, Randy & Reggie Kopesky, Cheryl Kopp, Elaine Murray and Mary James |
When Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley (YRALSCV) asked all members and businesses to put up signs to welcome home the troops, Kopp & Daughters Sign Services went above and beyond the call.
As a veteran himself, Lyman Kopp designed and painted a beautiful "Welcome Home Troops" sign with his daughter Cheryl Kopp. The Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix
Valley team posted it on a big hill in Lakeland, for all to see.
The Kopp family knows how important support for families is. In 1995, the Kopp family lost one of their daughters, Army Maj. Patricia Kopp in a land mine explosion in Egypt. And, just this winter they lost another daughter, Mary Kopp, to her battle with cancer.
The Alliance knows that another challenge Servicemembers may be facing is searching for a job. To help out, the Alliance is identifying local businesses that are offering employment.
To learn more about Yellow Ribbon Alliance Lower St. Croix Valley, share a job or to volunteer, visit our blog at www.YRALSCV.blogspot.com, 'like' their page on Facebook or contact Karen Underhill at 651-485-6069. | |
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Roseville Police Department | |
Throughout the 2012 season, the Minnesota Twins are recognizing companies that go above and beyond in hiring veterans and supporting their employees who serve. In early spring, Beyond the Yellow Ribbon accepted nominations for employer recognition by the Twins at Target Field. Of the dozen nominations that were received, one of the selected nominations was the Roseville Police Department.
Sgt. 1st Class Erin Reski, along with three fellow officers, were recognized May 29 at home plate during a pregame ceremony. The four also received four tickets to enjoy that night's game. During the ceremony, the following script was read over Target Field's public announcement system:
Tonight we recognize the Roseville Police Department for their extraordinary commitment to supporting their officers during deployment. Officer Erin Reski is also a Sgt. First Class in the Minnesota Army National Guard and recently returned from a nine month deployment to Kuwait. From the moment of deployment notification through reintegration she has been supported the entire department, from the Chief of police to her colleagues. Three of them are here tonight with Erin standing on home plate.
They include the Roseville Police Department Assistant, Kelly Roberto. Kelly was instrumental in ensuring Erin was never without anything she needed while deployed. She sent numerous care packages to boost the moral of Erin and her Soldiers.
Officer Grant Dattilo assisted Erin by ensuring that her house was maintained and even made some additional "upgrades" to surprise her with a Home-coming makeover!
Lieutenant Scott Williams has gone above and beyond to ensure Erin has had time to re-integrate with her family, friends and into her life at home before returning to patrol duties. |
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