The roots of this skilled nursing facility were planted as early as 2013 through the dedication of local veteran advocates and volunteers. The Preston Veterans Home Committee was established in the summer of 2015. Co-chairs and Vietnam veterans Don Gildner and Ron Scheevel began with little more than a dream. Over time with the help of volunteers/advocates and numerous trips to … [Read more...]
One of Mabel’s Own
Eighty-one years after the crash of a B-24D in North Africa during WWII, the mystery of what happened on that tragic day, September 4, 1943, remains unsolved. Aboard that plane was one of Mabel’s own boys, Darol Milton Sherburne. Staff Sergeant Darol M. Sherburne was killed on September 4, 1943, at Craw Field, Port Lyautey, Morocco, North Africa. Immediately after take-off, … [Read more...]
A Gold Star Sister
Rosemarie (Johnson) Morken of Peterson, Minn., the sole surviving sibling of Army Private First-Class Jerry Allen Johnson declared that she is proud to be a Gold Star Sister. Rosemarie, Johnson’s youngest sister was only 11 years old when he was killed in Vietnam. She remembers the day when her family received the news that he had been killed. Jerry was born on October 15, … [Read more...]
Show Your Support for Our Country’s Veterans: Wear Your Poppy
It’s time once again to mark your calendar: the annual 2024 opportunity to wear a poppy showing your support for our country’s veterans is fast approaching! National Poppy Day is the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, May 24, however, poppies will be available at many local businesses and Lanesboro’s American Legion Post #40 from midweek through the holiday on May 27. Despite … [Read more...]
Preston VFW and Auxiliary Announce Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen Essay Winners
Preston VFW and Auxiliary are proud to announce the winners of the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen essay contests. Audra Otto won first place at the district level and second place at the state level for the Voice of Democracy. Katelyn Scheevel won first place at the local level for the Patriot’s Pen, and Hayden Hjelmeland won second place at the local level for the … [Read more...]
Service Dog Becomes Rushford American Legion’s First Mascot
As of June 26, 2023, the American Legion Post 94 in Rushford, Minn., has its first ever mascot – a dog named Bella. But this four-year-old Golden Retriever is much more than just a pretty face. She is veteran Ron Petersen’s service dog. Petersen served in Vietnam with the Marine Corp and has been dealing with the aftereffects for many years. To help with this, one of his VA … [Read more...]
“Lady of the Lake” Floats into Preston Veterans Home, Courtesy of Preston Area Arts Council
In January 2024 the Preston Area Arts Council disbanded due to a lack of new members and current members aging out. But before that happened the council decided they wanted to present the Preston Veterans Home with a gift. The council was made up of five members: Kay Spangler, founder and co-director, Mariella TerBeest-Schladweiler, co-director, Eileen Linden, the late … [Read more...]
First Veteran Moves into Preston Veterans Home
Long-time Preston resident Walter Hanson was the first resident to move into the Preston Veterans Home, on his 91st birthday, January 3, 2024. The newly opened Minnesota Veterans Home in Preston admitted its first residents on January 3 – four veterans who served in eras from Korea to Vietnam. The Preston Veterans Home is the first of three new veterans homes scheduled to … [Read more...]
They Keep Answering the Call to Serve
Acknowledging membership in the American Legion, Commander of Post 68, Nathan Pike and District Commander Mark Maloney presented pins and certificates recognizing 16 veterans. “What personally does membership in the American Legion mean?” was the question asked to each veteran. Among these awards were 70-year pins for two members, Roy Christopherson and Harlan Marchant. … [Read more...]
Prevent 22 Task Force Donates $10,000
Did you know that an average of 22 veterans commit suicide daily in the U.S.? That’s a shocking number of veterans who faithfully served our country, isn’t it? Well, Flo Litwinczuk thought so too when she learned the statistic and she and some friends decided they needed to do something about it. For 25 years Flo and her friends had been doing benefits and fundraising for … [Read more...]
Preston Veterans Home to host Community Office Open House
PRESTON, MN – Potential residents, future employees and local businesses are invited to learn more about the Preston Veterans Home at a Community Office Open House. The event will be held Wednesday, March 29 from 1-3 p.m. at the Preston Veterans Home Community Recruitment and Training Office located at 144 Main Street SW in Preston – NOT at the new home’s construction site. … [Read more...]
Minnesota Veterans Homes receive $80,000 donation from Hutchinson VFW
St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) was honored to receive a very generous donation of $80,000 from the Department of Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Charles McLaughlin Post 906 in Hutchinson, Minn. This donation was specifically directed to each individual State Veterans Home, which will receive $10,000 per location. Department of … [Read more...]
Preston Veterans Home 80% complete
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) provided a quarterly update on the Preston Veterans Home on January 10. Administrator Dave Dunn has been hired and has a temporary office at 216 Main Street in Preston (the old movie theater). The 54 bed facility may open in mid-June. The building is expected to be substantially completed by the end of March. The home is … [Read more...]
Administrator selected for future Preston Veterans Home
ST. PAUL, MN – The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) announces that David Dunn has been selected to serve as the administrator of the future Preston Veterans Home, scheduled to open in mid-2023. Dunn joins MDVA with more than 18 years of experience as an administrator for nursing homes and other healthcare facilities. He holds a Master of Science in Health Care … [Read more...]
One Moment, Please… Honoring our Veterans
Thank you again to all of our veterans for their service to our country. Veterans Day has come and gone, but we can never forget their sacrifices of so many men and women from our region. Back in 2014, with the help of some amazing people on our team at the Fillmore County Journal, we started a project in which we had hopes of publishing our first-ever book dedicated to the … [Read more...]