Politics & Government

Sen. Wiger on Veterans Day: 'An Opportunity to Show Our Gratitude'

"I would also like to say thank you to the many patriotic groups that offer assistance to our veterans and families," says the senator who represents parts of Oakdale.

Freedom isn’t free.

As former President Dwight D. Eisenhower said:

“Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed—else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.”

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Sometimes we can forget the daily sacrifices being made by our military personnel and their families. Brave Americans put their lives on the line to keep our country safe and that cannot go unrecognized.

Veterans Day serves as a reminder of those sacrifices and gives us an opportunity to show our gratitude.

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Do not let this Veterans Day pass without showing your gratitude for every man and woman that has served, and is currently serving in the military. In honor of our veterans, please support our troops.

There are many ways to get involved in Veterans Day events. I encourage you to participate in these events, and to take time to honor our veterans and their families.

The following are some events in our area:

North St. Paul, Veterans Memorial Park Groundbreaking: North St. Paul Veteran's Park on Monday, November 11, 2013 at 4:30pm (corner of Margaret Street & Hwy 36).

Oakdale, Elementary School Veterans Day Program: All veterans are welcome to attend the Oakdale Elementary School Veterans Day Program at 9:15 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11.

White Bear Lake, Ecumenical Veterans Day Observance: Monday, November 11, 2013, at 2pm at St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Cemetery (Intersection of White Bear Ave. and So. Shore Blvd.). All are welcome to join.

Along with giving thanks to our veterans, I would also like to say thank you to the many patriotic groups that offer assistance to our veterans and families. For example:

Beyond the Yellow Ribbon: The Minnesota National Guard has pioneered a program in hopes of changing how soldiers are reintegrated back to their communities.

Called “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon,” the program is named as a reminder that the support of soldiers cannot end when they return from deployment and the yellow ribbons are untied.

Many of our area communities and businesses now participate in this program. Go to the Minnesota National Guard's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon website for more information.

The Minnesota VFW, Minnesota American Legion and their respective auxiliaries encourage everyone to support veterans and the families of the troops.

We are thankful for the Family Support centers that have been set up for each Guard and Reserves branch. You can find contact information at this website.

As always, please contact me with questions or suggestions regarding any issue. I encourage you to visit me at the Capitol, or let me know if you’d like me to stop by your home or apartment.

Also, please tune in to my local cable TV show Your Capitol: What’s Up?, which appears on public access channels 15 and 16.

I can be reached by email at sen.chuck.wiger@senate.mn and by phone at 651-296-6820.


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