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Veterans on the Hill
Annual spring event in Minnesota to advocate for veteran friendly legislation. |
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Contact Dave Meyer in Brainerd if you are interested in going on the bus. 218-839-2653
April 9, 2025: A bus from Bemidji picked up central Minnesota veterans at Motley in the morning and dropped them off in Motley at the end of the day. Jeff McArthur was the Brainerd coordinator. Items lobbied for were to pass a clean omnibus bill with veteran legislation only, increasing the amount of property tax exclusion for disabled veterans and reducing the cost of hunting and fishing licenses for disabled veterans. The overall theme was "Take Action."
The Brainerd crew at the bus, (l-r) Travis Svaboda, Pat Shea, Jon Kolstad Jeff McArthur, Steve Nelson, Richard Schmidt and Mark Strobel.
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About 750 veterans from across the state showed up. Thanks to Jeff McArthur for the photos.
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April 17, 2024: The annual Veterans on the Hill rally in St. Paul drew a record crowd of about 800 with standing room only. Brainerd veterans joined Bemidji and St. Cloud veterans on a bus to St. Paul. Topics advocated by the Minnesota Disabled American Veterans included passing a clean veterans omnibus bill and increasing the amount of property tax exclusion. There were more women veterans this year at the event. The Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War led the march to the Minnesota Capitol. There were many good speakers including VFW Department of Minnesota Commander Dan Meyer, American Legion National Commander Daniel Seehafer and Minnesota Commissioner of Veterans Affairs Brad Lindsay. Many said we should find ways to stop veteran suicides. There were several standing ovations. Two World War II veterans were honored in the capitol rotunda.
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VFW Department of Minnesota Commander Dan Meyer, "When I look out over the crowd, I do not see Republicans or Democrats or Independents. All I see is veterans and veteran supporters. We need to work together to make this better for all Veterans and their families. This is what the veterans service organization is really about. Taking care of veterans and their families."
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The march to the capitol was led by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1st Minnesota Infantry Division. |
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KSTP-TV Eyewitness News was there to cover the event.kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/minnesota-service-members-march-on-state-capitol-for-veterans-day-on-the-hill/ |
Some 17 veterans and significant others from Brainerd rode a DAV sponsored bus to St. Paul. The sign says Support Veterans Now.
March 30, 2023: Veterans and wives headed to St. Paul to persuade legislators to pass veteran friendly legislation. Dave Meyer, Crow Wing County DAV Commander, was the local coordinator. It was a record turnout of the Brainerd crew and at the capitol.
The 19 from Brainerd who took a bus to St. Paul.
There was a rally at an Armory, just two blocks from the capitol. The theme was, "We need to be engaged with the government." Goals included:
- Pass a clean Veterans Omnibus Bill
- Support the Hastings Veterans Home Project
- Support state funding to MDVA for prevention of veteran suicides
- Provide a percentage-based change to Homestead Market Value Exclusion
- Modify the definition of a veteran
- Amend two laws to help CVSOs
- Reduce the cost of hunting, trapping & fishing licenses for disabled veterans
- Eliminate 2-year rule for DIC recipients
- Eliminate vehicle registration fees for Gold Star spouses and children, as well as 100 percent disabled.
Then there was a parade to the capitol.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told the group he is doing what he can, but the state legislator has to send him the legislation first.
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March 28, 2023: Mark Persons and Dave Meyer of the Brainerd VFW were interviewed by Brad Mielke on WWWI Radio.
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Wednesday, April 20, 2022, Veterans in Minnesota traveled to St. Paul to lobby state legislators for veteran friendly legislation. The Brainerd group, coordinated by Dave Meyer, carpooled from Brainerd to Motley. A bus from Bemidji stopped and picked them up for the trip to St. Paul. They returned early in the evening. Disabled American Veterans paid the costs.
The crew from Brainerd. (l-r) Front row: Mark Persons, Alan Christie, Erik Flowers. Back row: Steve Rosenow, Mike Williams, Paula Persons, Tammy Schmidt, Lon Schmidt, Byron Eliseuson, Larry Christensen and Dave Meyer.
April 2022: There are 304,000 veterans in Minnesota. Of that, 100,000 served in Vietnam, 48,000 for Global Terrorism, 33,000 are Gulf War veterans and only 7,000 are left from WWII.
March to the Capitol in the rain on April 20, 2022
The event was cancelled in in 2020 and 2021 to stay safe from COVID-19. Photos below are from previous visits to the capitol.
March 20, 2019: Sixteen Brainerd VFW veterans and spouses boarded a bus with 18 vets from Bemidji to attend the annual Veterans on the Hill in St. Paul. It was a full day experience with about 500 other vets from around the state. They attended speeches at the Cedar Street Armory then it was off to the rotunda in the State Capitol to hear and talk more about veteran legislation. The governor was there along with the VFW state commander. Reg Chapman, a Gulf War veteran, is the only combat veteran news reporter in the Twin Cities. He was there to report and conduct interviews for WCCO-TV. Bus trip and meal expenses were paid by the Minnesota Disabled American Veterans. Our thanks to them.
Veterans and spouses on the Bemidji/Brainerd bus
March to the Capitol
March 12, 2018: (photos below) About a thousand veterans gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol for the annual "Vet's on the Hill" day. They marched up the capitol steps with flags and then heard speeches by state legislators in the capitol rotunda, followed by break-out sessions for questions and answers with legislators from their districts. Many questions were very direct in asking for more veterans homes and legislation favoring veterans. WCCO Television was there to do interviews. Six Brainerd veterans attended.
Parade to the capitol
