Did you know when you buy the “Support Our Troops” (SOT) License Plate, you are helping Minnesota Veterans and their families?

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) distributes funds raised by the sale of SOT license plates to numerous organizations that support Minnesota Veterans and their families. Learn more about the SOT grant program on our website.

The Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America Veteran Service Organization was awarded a $81,760 Support Our Troops grant to assist establish a new JWV-MN Office Headquarters in St. Paul.

About the Jewish War Veterans
The Jewish War Veterans (JWV) is the premier voice for Jewish uniformed service members and Veterans in the United States. JWV affirms that Jewish men and women serve honorably and heroically in the military forces of the United States of America during peacetime and war.

JWV is the longest running, congressionally chartered Veterans Service Organization in the United States. The organization was founded in 1896 by a group of 63 Jewish Veterans from the Civil War after a series of anti-Semitic comments about the lack of Jewish service in the Civil War. Since then, JWV has been working hard to be the voice of over 15,000 American Jews in the Veteran Community.

The Minnesota Department of the JWV (JWV-MN) originated after World War I when Post 162 was created. Today Post 162, 354 and 331 make up the JWV-MN. Their purpose is encapsulated in the moving words of the National Constitution’s preamble: “We, citizens of the United States of America, of the Jewish faith, who served in the Wars of the United States of America, …associate ourselves together for the following purposes:

• To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America;
• To foster and perpetuate true Americanism;
• To combat whatever tends to impair the efficiency and permanency of our free institutions;
• To encourage the doctrine of universal liberty, equal rights, and full justice to all men and women;
• To combat the powers of bigotry and
• To preserve the spirit of comradeship by mutual helpfulness to comrades and their families.

JWV-MN SOT Grant

• New Office Space/Technology Upgrade - in the Minnesota State Veteran Services Office Building. The JWV-MN will be using the SOT grant to modernize office technology with the purchase of computer equipment and digital infrastructure.
• Outreach - JWV is mostly comprised of WW II-era, Korean War-era and Vietnam-era Veterans. The SOT grant will assist JWV to expand outreach to younger Veterans and “Patron” members. Current plans include sponsoring an Art Fair at the Jewish Community Center featuring artists of all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Social Media - The JWV Minnesota Chapter does not have a strong social media presence. This is needed to attract younger Veterans, associates and patrons. We believe this is a vital path to gaining exposure to a greater population of potential members and to build community relationships

Stillman Family Story
Zach Stillman, a 14-year-old young man, reached out to JWV-MN with the idea of bridging the generational gap between his generation and that of the JWV Veterans. Zach asked to start a Pen Pal Program with his peers and some JVW World War II/Korean War/Vietnam-era members. The Pen Pal program has since been launched with high expectations that this will “catch on” and turn into a great recurring event.

For more information about Jewish War Veterans of Minnesota, visit the JWV-MN website.

For more information about purchasing a SOT license plate, visit our website.