While the total number of Veterans in Minnesota has declined over the last 10 years, the needs of our Veterans has increased.

Veterans are aging, and while World War II Veterans are now among the smallest group, Korean and Vietnam War-era Veterans in their 70s and 80s are the largest group of Veterans in the state. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) anticipated this. In response, we built, opened and recently dedicated three new State Veterans Homes to provide skilled nursing care for almost 200 more elderly Veterans. The long waiting lists validate the need for this service across the state.

MDVA also reached out to Vietnam-era Veterans through the 50th Anniversary Commemoration event held June 13 to 15. We were so pleased that hundreds of Veterans and families visited the museum displays, learned more about their earned benefits at the Resource Fair, received long overdue messages of thanks at the program, and made connections at the brunch. We were so thankful for all who attended.

And now we look ahead to more opportunities to better serve our Veterans. We await Federal funding to rebuild the Hastings Veterans Home, replacing several buildings – some dating back 100 years! – with one new facility to best serve some 100 Veterans living there as part of our Domiciliary Program.

And we have support to start exploring a fifth State Veterans Cemetery in the Bemidji area to serve northwest Minnesota. We were honored to open a fourth State Veterans Cemetery in Redwood Falls last August to serve the southwest part of our State.

To best meet of our mission of serving Minnesota Veterans, their dependents and survivors, people should be aware of MDVA and knowledgeable in the services and support we provide. MDVA will conduct “market research” to better understand Minnesotans’ awareness, preference and opinion of MDVA. This will establish a baseline from which to build upon in the years to come. Our goal is to ensure that every Minnesota Veteran and their families know we are here to serve.

I hope you are enjoying the summer season!

As always, if you need information or support on any Veteran issue, please visit our website, contact your County Veterans Service Officer, or contact LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet.

Thank YOU for your service!