Photo By Daniel Ewer | St. Paul native Martha Rossini (also known as Sweet Martha), her family, and employees...... read more read more
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ST. PAUL, Minn. - The soldiers currently deployed with the 1st Brigade Combat Team come from more than 500 Minnesota communities, but they all have one thing in common. Each soldier has a family they left behind to serve their country. One Minnesota-based volunteer group has made it their goal to bring soldiers together with their family for a meal, even though they’re more than 6,000 miles away.
Serving Our Troops served more than 3,000 steaks to family members of deployed Minnesota National Guard soldiers and Airmen at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn. on Feb. 25, 2012. The group also simultaneously served approximately 13,000 steak dinners to service members at five military bases in and around Kuwait City.
This event is “a tremendous opportunity for us to eat a great steak, to connect with our families, to listen to good music and to thank those back in our communities in Minnesota who take time out of their busy schedules to bring a touch of home to us here in Kuwait,” said Chap. (Maj.) Buddy Winn.
Throughout the meal, the families were connected with their service member via live video feed and video chats. “This was the best connection we’ve ever had,” said Rhonda Breeding after a video chat with her husband Staff Sgt. Mark Breeding.
“This means a lot to me, it is a taste of home,” said deployed Sgt. 1st Class Donald Klick. “Knowing that my family is going to have a steak dinner as well, makes me feel good, it re-energizes me.”
Seeing the smiles and tears of family members as they exited the chat booths, proved that this day was more than just a meal with the family. For these families, it was a sign of support, encouragement and a ‘thank you’ for the sacrifices they make for their country. "These events help me get through the deployment, because they create milestones to look forward to," said Kelly Guralnik. "I feel blessed to have so many organizations in Minnesota that care about military families, especially since we do not live on an active duty military base. It helps to know that we're not forgotten."
At the event, there was also a program with guest speakers Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Minnesota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Richard Nash, 34th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. David Elicerio and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, who was accompanied by more than 20 other mayors from communities around Minnesota. Col. Eric Kerska, commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team and Pat Harris, representing Serving Our Troops, also spoke from Kuwait to the families back in Minnesota.
“The volunteers came together to send a special message to our soldiers and their families; that we are thinking about them and we care about them,” said Harris. “Our message is in the form of a 12-oz. steak that is cooked by some of the best cooks that Minnesota has to offer.”
In a video message, First Lady Michelle Obama thanked the soldiers, their families, the volunteers and, of course, Serving Our Troops. “Year in and year out Serving Our Troops shows that we can all find creative ways to give our heroes the honor, recognition and support they deserve,” Obama said.
This is the ninth project for the Minnesota-based group, with more than 70,000 steak dinners served around the world. Judging by the smiles on the faces in Kuwait and the families in St. Paul, it was very much appreciated.
| Date Taken: | 02.25.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.29.2012 17:17 |
| Story ID: | 84517 |
| Location: | ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, US |
| Web Views: | 36 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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