Veterans Coffee
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Meetings are at 10 am on the third Saturday of each month in the Fireside Room at the Heritage Church. Open to all veterans and their significant others/families. The goal is to bring veterans together for fellowship and to recover from their time in service. It is also a time to learn about veteran benefits. The meeting room is wheelchair accessible. Coffee and donuts are compliments of the Brainerd VFW. Eusebia (hAy-You-Say-Bee-Yah) "Chappy" Rios is the event coordinator.
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Connect, Communicate and Network |
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Heritage Church, 13242 Berrywood Drive, Baxter, MN, just off College Drive in the Baxter Industrial Park.
Always a time to learn more.
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April 19, 2025: Eleven gathered to tell stories, talk about life and play Bingo for prizes. Natalie Petersen from the Crow Wing County Veteran Service Office reported on her recent trip to Washington D.C. and what she learned about getting veteran benefits. Jim Knudsen related the story about working with our government to get closure for his uncle Julius Knudsen who is missing in action and presumably died in the Bataan Death March. The goal is to identify and return his remains to Minnesota, a difficult task after more than 80 years.
Natalie Petersen
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Jim Knudsen
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March 15, 2025: It was St. Patrick's Day in Brainerd, but first it was coffee and donuts with Chaplain Rios. The group talked about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
January 18, 2025: Below zero temperatures didn't stop people from coming to the meeting. The discussion revolved around Four Chaplains Day. They also talked about equality of men and women in the service and VA benefits.
December 21, 2024: About twenty veterans and spouses showed up at the monthly meeting. Bless a Vet was the theme. There were tacos for breakfast and donuts. Then there was a trivia game, and everyone went home with a gift. Merry Christmas.
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Veterans (l-r) Frank Hood, Donnie Shogren and Mike Williams provided the music. |
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November 16, 2024: Another great meeting where people related stories about their time in the military. Chappy told about being in a hospital with a serious sinus infection on her 21st birthday!
Bless a Vet. Veterans and their families are invited to the Saturday, December 21st meeting.
Bless a Vet. Veterans and their families are invited to the Saturday, December 21st meeting.
October 19, 2024: A very good meeting with a discussion of veteran benefits this day.
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Natalie Peterson, Assistant Veteran Service Officer in Crow Wing County, reminded everyone that her office is there to help veterans to gain benefits they have earned.
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Chappy Rios reminded everyone to vote for candidates who have a record of helping veterans.
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August 17, 2024: Chaplain Rios called the meeting together with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. The group discussed veterans going back into the civilian world after deployments. Not an easy step for many! Lots of banter back and forth. A good meeting.
The group for this meeting.
July 20, 2024: There was a smaller than usual gathering because Honor Guard members and others were away at events. The conversation started with a question on how Chaplain Rios became a chaplain. That led to an hour + explanation that kept the group asking for more.
Chappy enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and became a dental assistant. She had plans to become a dentist but found God along the way. Chappy hadn't planned it that way, but it happened. She was swept into help others in the path of life. Along the way, she served in Afghanistan and Iraq, during her 33 years of service.
Now she works for BrainCore of Northern Minnesota helping people heal from Autism, depression, insomnia, migraines, PTSD, trauma, chronic pain, memory loss, anxiety, ADHD, substance abuse, and brain injury to achieve peak performance.
Now she works for BrainCore of Northern Minnesota helping people heal from Autism, depression, insomnia, migraines, PTSD, trauma, chronic pain, memory loss, anxiety, ADHD, substance abuse, and brain injury to achieve peak performance.
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May 18, 2024: Crow Wing County Veteran Service Officer Erik Flowers was the speaker, discussing and answering questions about VA benefits.
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April 20, 2024: Guest presenters this month were from Gabriel's Home. They are a non-profit equine rescue group with the mission to bring in horses from the most desperate situations, rehabilitate them and use their experiences to help others. Gabriel's Home provides opportunities for children with autism, veterans, and people recovering from addiction to spend time with horses, providing peace and healing for both the horse and Individuals.
A Horse named Charity.
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This one is named Rebecca.
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March 16, 2024: The meeting started with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. led by Chaplain Rios.
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At the meeting, Dave Meyer was the speaker talking about veteran benefits and the need for all veterans to belong to veteran organizations. It was a good discussion.
All veterans are invited to attend. There is no charge and no obligation of any kind. Every third Saturday at 10 am.
