Memorial Day is a day to remember those who gave their lives to protect the freedoms we share today.
But there are hundreds of thousands of men and women in the military today making sacrifices to make sure we keep those freedoms.
The Yellow Ribbon Network is an organization dedicated to serving those people, and there are three Yellow Ribbon Communities in Sherburne County.
The City of Elk River was proclaimed a Yellow Ribbon City in August, 2012.
Becker became a Yellow Ribbon Community on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2013 and Big Lake was proclaimed a Yellow Ribbon Community Nov. 1, 2015.
The Yellow Ribbon Network is a group of citizens, businesses, civic organizations and community leaders banding together to support service members and their military families.
The network began when community members saw the need to help service members and families deal with life changes associated with deployment. Military veterans and their families are eligible for services and benefits. But that’s not always the case with someone who is recently deployed.
The Yellow Ribbon Network focuses on connecting military families and service people with local resources that support thier needs.
Sherburne County Veterans Service Officer Bruce Price says he deals with veterans and military personnel every day, helping them get their benefits and services. But a few each month who don’t qualify are referred to local Yellow Ribbon Communities to get assistance.
“There’s a huge pool of resources, but a lot of the time veterans benefits are temporary,” says Price.
That’s when he contacts the Yellow Ribbon Network. One example was a Vietnam veteran from Big Lake who had been hospitalized for months. Just after he was released and was in rehabilitation, his wife fell and had a serious injury.
Raeanne Danielowski, mayor of Big Lake and an instrumental part of the Big Lake Yellow Ribbon Community, says they needed someone to mow their lawn. He husband transported their mower to the home and has been doing it since.
Price says another time, a military family needed furniture and a business in Big Lake helped them out.
“They had furniture to donate to any veteran,” he says.
Yellow Ribbon Networks have been springing up all throughout the country in an attempt to fill the void that can’t be filled through regular benefits.
Things most people take for granted, like minor home repairs, snow removal, car maintenance and computer troubleshooting can be big issues for a single parent with no time or lack of funds.
“Sometimes it’s someone who needs a ride to an appointment or just needs a babysitter so they can do some errands on their own,” says Price. “Or someone lost a job and just needed some money to get them through the next month. There might not be a state or federal benefit to do that. That’s where the Yellow Ribbon Network comes in.”
Although each Network is a separate entity, they all work together. Danielowski says the Network can help people regardless of where they live.
“We will assist and respond to a veteran or serving military member or family for a need no matter where they are,” she says. “We would be there for them. It isn’t just a city boundary.”
Last month, The Big Lake and Becker Yellow Ribbon Communities partnered for a fun event at the Becker Community Center in recognition of Children of Military Families Month.
“Becker invited us. We recognized the children and the sacrifices they make for their mom or dad serving in the military,” says Danielowski. “Next year we’ll host the event.”
Price says everyone needs to get the word out about the Yellow Ribbon Network because he still sees plenty of veterans who don’t know about it.
“It’s another tool we have to help them,” he says.
And Danielowski says people don’t have to worry about the stigma of asking for help.
“They like to be self sufficient. They’re trained to be that way,” she says. “They feel asking for help is some sort of weakness. But it’s not. It’s neighbors helping neighbors.”
Anyone who needs the services of the Yellow Ribbon Network should contact Price at 1-800-433-5243.
