9/18/2021 11:45:15 AM
August was a busy and eventful month for the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs. Hundreds of guests turned out to celebrate the groundbreaking of new Veterans Homes on August 9 in Preston, August 23 in Montevideo and August 26 in Bemidji.
These three Minnesota cities, filled with dedicated citizens who have been working for more than a decade to secure funding to build Veterans Homes to serve those who served us, turned out to joyfully commemorate these milestone groundbreakings.
Each ceremony included presenters and special program features that spoke directly to each community. Artist renderings provided a sneak peek at the new Homes’ designs that will be constructed using materials that reflect the unique natural resources available from the local communities.
The view from Preston’s event was reminiscent of a picture postcard. Under partly sunny skies, this wide open, undeveloped land (15 acres in all) with panoramic views of a 200-year-old native white oak forest featured large construction equipment, signage, festive balloons, colorful floral arrangements and flags, famous Preston fish cookies, and a formal shovel and hard hat display.
Federal, State, and Local elected officials united to honor the sacrifices that Veterans and their families have made over the course of their life and to set the stage for opening this 54-unit facility. Speakers included:
A large, engaged contingent of Veterans Service Organization representatives, Auxiliary members, and Honor Guard participants added energy to the stories that were shared. Six waves of shovelers helped to break the ground, readying it for the construction crew to start moving big dirt mounds in the coming days.
What’s happening next in Preston? Excavation and site grading is underway and will continue through the end of the year. Concrete foundations will commence soon, work on underground plumbing will begin at the end of October, and steel stud framing and structural steel will take shape at the beginning of November and continue through the winter.
A truly hot time was had in Montevideo, with sweltering temperatures, high humidity and unrelenting sunshine. But what a glorious day! Guests sat on chairs on the residential street facing the 14.25-acre property that ultimately will be home to a 72-unit long-term care facility. A cheerful mood was created with “I heart Veterans” cookies, a huge, sky-bound flag displayed from a city fire engine, a color guard featuring VFW, American Legion, AmVet and DAV post members, and adults and children alike having their picture taken wearing hard hats and toting shovels. Seven waves of shovelers hoisted dirt while photographers snapped photos.
What’s happening next in Montevideo? The site will undergo mass excavation, utilities installation (what isn’t completed by year end will occur in spring 2022), laying foundations for the basement and associated deep underground plumbing, basement masonry, and frost footings and foundations for areas without a basement.
It was a stormy day with gray skies and cooler temperatures in Bemidji, but that didn’t keep attendees away. With umbrellas fully opened, a large crowd overflowed from under the big tent and a sizable color guard stood watch in the rain. Guests turned their eyes to the yet-to-be cleared 15 acres of land where a 72-unit Veterans Home will be constructed. Unique to this event, a Native American prayer for the land and the Veterans was chanted in its original Ojibwe language and - even in the midst of a downpour - five waves of shovelers helped move the earth to launch the formal building process. A wide range of presenters included:
What’s happening next in Bemidji? Clearing of the site has begun; soon, the construction company will be digging for footings and installing the concrete foundations. Shortly after that, they anticipate erecting the structure. It’s a race against the weather, but they expect to get much of this work completed before spring.
Final thoughts from the Commissioner
“Along with the Preston, Montevideo and Bemidji communities, our team has been waiting a very long time for these groundbreakings,” said Larry Herke, MDVA Commissioner. “We are so happy to finally be at the point where we can get this project moving forward. I’m excited for the day when we can welcome you all inside the new Minnesota Veterans Homes in mid-2023.”
To view photos from each event, visit the MDVA Flickr page.
