Veteran Residents and Veteran spouses of the Minnesota Veterans Homes - Fergus Falls were recently presented with a donation of more than $10,000 in support of a project to replace current televisions with 42-inch flat screens in all Resident rooms.

“We have been thinking about this replacement process for years,” says Stacy Honer, Building and Facilities Maintenance Foreman for the Veterans Home. “Over the years, all sizes of TVs have come with Residents entering their new home, from very small black and white TVs to very large older modular floor flat screens. We have seen them all.”

The plan is to place new flat screen TVs on all Resident wardrobes, with a pivotal mount so they can be viewed from different vantage points. “The gift from the Military Order of the Cootie, Dept. of Minnesota will help improve viewing opportunities in the comfort of our Residents’ own space. In rooms with double occupancy, each Resident will have a different brand of TV so remotes will work properly with no interference,” says Gary Harris, Jr., Public Affairs at the Veterans Home. “For Residents who want to watch special programs in a different format, there are larger screens with additional channel options in each common area.”

Cootie Grand Commander Tim Arnold and Grand Auxiliary President Deann Reynolds cover the state of Minnesota. Cooties are active members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; they are dedicated to maintaining duties that involve providing aid to hospitalized Veterans and those who are sick or injured, and providing blood, visitation, clothing and entertainment at VA medical centers and other non-VA facilities.

Each year, leaders select a project within the Order of the Cootie state organization for fundraising. This past year, Reynolds and Arnold decided to do a combined state project and selected the Fergus Falls Veterans Home TV Project.

“Commander Tim and I chose the Fergus Falls Veterans Home TV Project because we want to give back to all Veterans. These Veterans gave up their time to serve our country,” says Reynolds. “We wouldn't be here if it weren't for their sacrifice to keep our country free. This is just a small thank you for all they sacrificed.”

The fundraising toward their combined project culminated on June 30, raising a total of $10,662 to close out their year. Funding sources for the project came from a variety of sources including state auxiliary unit donations, fundraisers in state Cootie meetings and a $5,000 gift from the VFW Auxiliary unit in Milaca, Minnesota.

Fergus Falls Veterans Home Residents are grateful to all Minnesota Cooties and VFW members who supported this project that will change the way they are able to view TV programs in their own rooms for years to come.