Families of deployed National Guard members enjoy Sunday get-together

• Blankets

submitted photo A total of 36 children received warm blankets courtesy of the Southwest Minnesota chapter of Project Linus, during a Sunday event for families of deployed National Guard members at the Blue Mound Banquet and Meeting Centre in Luverne. Project Linus, a non-profit volunteer organization that provides comfort to children in need via handmade blankets, has operated in this area for about the past three years.

Talk about it

LUVERNE — When your spouse is overseas on military duty, life isn’t always much of a party.

But on Sunday, families of deployed National Guard members were treated to an afternoon of food and fun at the Blue Mound Banquet and Meeting Centre, courtesy of the Luverne National Guard Armory and a long list of sponsors and supporters.

“Every year we have a Christmas party and a summer picnic for the families of our service people,” said Staff Sergeant Ryan Fiferlick, the administrative sergeant for the Luverne armory. “It’s nice for them to get together and meet other families, and it’s a time to build morale and cohesion.”

At least 116 people affiliated with members of the National Guard unit Alpha Battery 1-125 Field Artillery (part of the 34th Infantry Division known as the Red Bulls) attended Sunday’s gathering, which is targeted for the soldiers’ families.

“The staff at Blue Mound Banquet Centre was phenomenal,” Fiferlick said. “The food was awesome—ham and turkey with all the fixings, plus dessert—and they treated us like kings.”

A variety of area organizations and businesses contributed to make the event special for the National Guard members’ families, many of whom have soldiers currently deployed at Camp Patriot in Kuwait.

“Travis left in August,” said Al Thiner, Worthington, of his son, one of the unit’s members. “He was home for two weeks at Christmas and just went back. He’s been in the National Guard for four years and just re-enlisted—this is his first deployment—and he will be gone with the unit until May.”

Travis Thiner’s situation is similar to that of several other guard members; his wife, Angela, and two young children — Kenadie, 5, and Tayton, 14 months — are striving to keep life on an even keel in Worthington while he focuses on the work he must do on behalf of the United States overseas.

That’s why Al Thiner and his wife, Pam, are involved in trying to help Worthington become a Yellow Ribbon community, meaning family members with deployed soldiers can more easily find assistance for anything they might need, whether it’s a broken furnace or some babysitting help.

“It’s a long process, but we’re working on it,” Al Thiner said of efforts to establish the program locally.

Meanwhile, Sunday provided a respite for soldiers’ families, along with many treats for the 36 children attending. (There are close to 70 children of soldiers in the Luverne/Pipestone group, but not all could be present.)

A special feature this year was the gift of warm blankets for each child, courtesy of the Southwest Minnesota chapter of Project Linus.

Project Linus, a non-profit volunteer organization that provides comfort to children in need via handmade blankets, has operated in this area for about the past three years. Beve Vajgrt is the chapter’s coordinator, and Sheryl Kucker, Vajgrt’s assistant, brought 110 blankets to the Luverne gathering from which the children could choose.

“It was really exciting and very fun,” Kucker said, adding the Project Linus volunteers don’t usually get to see the recipients receive the blankets, which are more typically given out by police officers, Southwest Crisis Center workers, Love INC representatives and medical professionals who assist children in emergency or traumatic situations.

“The kids really seemed to enjoy choosing their own blankets, and the families were appreciative,” Kucker added. “I thought it was reassuring to know there are soldiers out there working on our behalf, and that basic American values—like praying before the meal—are alive and well.”

“The handmade blankets are pretty neat, and it means a little more that someone took the time to make each blanket and not just buy them,” Fiferlick said. “The blankets went over well.”

While Fiferlick said the Alpha Battery 1-125 Field Artillery unit of Luverne/Pipestone has soldiers from Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the majority are from Luverne, Pipestone, Worthington and Sioux Falls—and the fundraising and donations for Sunday’s event came “100 percent from southwest Minnesota,” according to Fiferlick.

A high percentage of the businesses and organizations Fiferlick approached for assistance with the party responded favorably, and as a result, the children who attended received toys and a $10 gift card, besides the Project Linus blankets, and there were additional prizes for the deployed families.

“They had a good time,” confirmed Fiferlick of the families attending.

And Al Thiner, who pointed out that his grandson was only crawling when his son Travis left for Kuwait but was walking capably when his dad came home for his Christmas break, is similarly happy about the demonstrated public support for families of deployed soldiers.

“I’m grateful for the community support,” assured Al Thiner. “My daughter-in-law is doing a fine job getting along, but it makes it easier for the soldiers to know their families are taken care of here so they can better focus on the jobs they need to do over there.”

Tags: national guard, news, families, deployed, sunday, get-together