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The 2025 Department of Minnesota annual VFW Winter Conference Friday, January 10, 2025, through Sunday, January 12, 2025, at the Marriott NW in Brooklyn Park, MN.
Attending from the Brainerd VFW were Commander Chip Borle, his wife Kari, Senior Vice Commander Kevin Jensen, Auxiliary Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Garin, Post Sergeant at Arms Mike Williams, Post 1647 Auxiliary Junior Vice President Karen Williams, Darnell King and his wife Renate, Post 1647Gambling Manager Chuck Hanson, 6th District Commander Don Lohse and his wife Marna. Photos compliments of Chip Borle, Mike Williams and Darnell King.
Attending from the Brainerd VFW were Commander Chip Borle, his wife Kari, Senior Vice Commander Kevin Jensen, Auxiliary Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Garin, Post Sergeant at Arms Mike Williams, Post 1647 Auxiliary Junior Vice President Karen Williams, Darnell King and his wife Renate, Post 1647Gambling Manager Chuck Hanson, 6th District Commander Don Lohse and his wife Marna. Photos compliments of Chip Borle, Mike Williams and Darnell King.
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Karen Williams, representing VFW Post #1647 Auxiliary had a conversation regarding the importance of service dogs, which she will report on at the next Auxiliary meeting. |
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Poppy displays were well done. There were 19 entries using 7481 poppies that took 258 hours to construct. Photos compliments of Karen Williams.
January 12 - 14, 2024: The Department of Minnesota Midwinter Conference was held at the JW Marriott NW in Brooklyn Park, MN. Eight Brainerd VFW members were there. Dignitaries included VFW National Quartermaster General Marc Garduno and Auxiliary National Chaplain Donna Mills. There were many good Buddy Poppy displays, as seen below. Those honored this year included Lisa Fabre, Grade 1-3 Teacher of the Year, Michael Bass-Smith, Grade 6-8 Teacher of the Year and David Leppke, and Grade 9-12 Teacher of the Year. The Patriot's Pen first place winner was Sreshna Patange from Eden Prairie, MN. Taking first place in the Voice of Democracy competition was Lydia Prout from Burtram, MN, a junior in the Melrose Area High School. Lots to learn at the many sessions.
(l-r) Mark and Paula Persons, Auxiliary President Sue Sterling, Kari and Brainerd VFW Commander Chip Borle, Sr. Vice Commander Kevin Jensen, Brainerd VFW Auxiliary Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Garin and Brainerd VFW Quartermaster Pat Wing.
Report by Sue Sterling, Brainerd VFW Auxiliary President: Minnesota Mid-Winter Conference that was held January 12-14 in Brooklyn Park. The winners of the Voice of Democracy and Patriot Pen contests from the nine MN districts were announced. This year a more formal banquet was held in their honor in the grand ballroom of the hotel.
Those from the Brainerd post who attended were Commander Chip Borle and Kari, Sr. Vice Commander Kevin Jensen, Quartermaster Pat Wing, Auxiliary Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Garin, Auxiliary President Sue Sterling, along with Webmaster Mark Persons and Paula.
Those from the Brainerd post who attended were Commander Chip Borle and Kari, Sr. Vice Commander Kevin Jensen, Quartermaster Pat Wing, Auxiliary Secretary/Treasurer Dawn Garin, Auxiliary President Sue Sterling, along with Webmaster Mark Persons and Paula.
