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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Mar 20, 2010 - 5:39:42 PM |
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| Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman walks with Col. David Elicerio after arriving at Camp Adder, Iraq to meet with Soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard%u2019s 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division April 22. (U. S. Army Photo by Spc. Brian D. Jesness) |
Blackanthem Military News, Camp Adder, Iraq – Minnesota’s U.S. Senator Norm Coleman visited Minnesota troops at Camp Adder and Camp Taqaddum in Iraq April 22.
Coleman spoke with hundreds of Soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, to address the concerns about their deployment and future after returning home.
The visit featured town hall forums with Soldiers to brief them on the senator’s work in Congress and answer Soldiers’ questions. Coleman spoke of military issues relating to education, employment, retirement and the future of the war in Iraq.
“The nature of being in the guard and reserve today is different than it was before this war that we are in.” said Coleman.
We are working on bills to extend education benefits for Guard Soldiers up to 10 years after enlistment, said Coleman.
The visits also featured a steak fry featuring steaks donated by Mancini’s restaurant in St. Paul, Minn.
The donation of the steaks was a project of St. Paul businesses that sent more than 11,000 steaks to the Minnesota Soldiers in Iraq, despite the difficulties of shipping the frozen goods into the combat zone.
"They looked at logistical hurdles and we looked at the hope and opportunity, and in the end hope and opportunity overcame hurdles," Coleman said. "At a time of war, to connect families with their loved ones with a steak dinner in between is awesome.
This really is St. Paul. This is the heart of West Seventh Street and the St. Paul spirit."
The steaks traveled thought the United States, London and Kuwait City before arriving in Iraq.
The deployment of more than 2,600 Minnesota Soldiers of the 1/34 BCT was extended for 125 days in January.
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman poses with Soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard%u2019s 1-34 Brigade Troops Battalion after a town hall meeting at Camp Adder April 22. The Soldiers are wearing hats donated by the Minnesota Wild hockey team. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Brian D. Jesness) |
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| Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman is served a grilled steak by Bronze Star Medal with Valor recipient Sgt. Christopher Walton of Robbinsdale, Minn., of the Minnesota National Guard%u2019s 1-34 Brigade Troops Battalion April 22 at Camp Adder during a steak fry featuring steaks shipped from Mancini%u2019s restaurant in St. Paul, Minn. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. Brian D. Jesness) |
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