Veterans on the Hill
Annual Spring Event
Veterans on the Hill in St. Paul is an annual spring event sponsored by the Minnesota Disabled Americans.  All veterans and spouses are invited.
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.
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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.
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Then there was a parade to the capitol.
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Minnesota Governor Tim Walz told the group he is doing what he can, but the state legislator has to send him the legislation first.
March 28, 2023:  Mark Persons and Dave Meyer of the Brainerd VFW were interviewed by Brad Mielke on WWWI Radio.
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.​
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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.
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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.
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Veterans and spouses on the Bemidji/Brainerd bus
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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. 
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Parade to the capitol