TODAY WE KNOW YOU WILL BE
TAKING SOME TIME TO HONOR
AMERICA'S MILITARY VETERANS.
AND THIS VETERANS DAY MANY
OF YOU ARE SAYING THANK YOU TO
THE TROOPS AS PART OF THE MORE
THAN NAMES FLAG.
WE UNVEILED THE FLAG AT LAST
NIGHT'S WILD GAME.
IT FEATURES SIGNATURES FROM
MORE THAN 120,000 PEOPLE.
TODAY, IT WILL BE PART OF THE
STATE CEREMONY WHERE WE FIND
ALLIE LUCIA WHO IS LIVE WITH A
PREVIEW.
Reporter: THIS IS GOING TO
BE A GREAT CELEBRATION AND A
CHANCE FOR EVERYONE TO SAY
THANK YOU TO THE THOUSANDS OF
MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE IN THE
MILITARY RIGHT HERE IN THE
STATE OF MINNESOTA.
THE PROGRAM STARTS AT 8:30 THIS
MORNING.
STARTS WITH A FREE BREAKFAST.
I'M JOINED BY GREG REMUS THE
NEW CHAIR OF THE COMMANDERS
TASK FORCE.
HE ADVISES THE COMMITTEE ABOUT
HOW THIS DAY SHOULD BE RUN.
THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME
ATTENDING THE EVENT.
WHAT DOES VETERANS DAY MEAN TO
YOU?
IT MEANS -- A DAY TO
RECOGNIZE VETERANS AND THE
CURRENT MILITARY.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME
BECAUSE I -- I SERVED 22 YEARS
AND I KNOW WHAT THEY DO TO --
OR THEIR SACRIFICES.
I -- I -- IT JUST -- IT IS A
DAY WHERE EVERYBODY CAN COME
TOGETHER AND SAY THANK YOU.
Reporter: YOU'RE THE STATE
COMMANDER OF DISABLED VETERANS
AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF
THOSE PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE.
BUT HOW CAN PEOPLE AT HOME
MAYBE HELP A DISABLED VETERAN?
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF OF
WAYS.
THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS
COME TOGETHER AND THEY -- THEY
PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE -- TO
THE VETERANS.
FOR INSTANCE, THE DAV HAS A
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
COME OUT AND BE A VOLUNTEER FOR
THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORK.
YOU CAN DRIVE THE VEHICLES AND
DRIVE THE VETERANS TO THE -- TO
THE V. A. FACILITIES.
YOU CAN COME AND -- DO -- DO
ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
Reporter: THIS IS A DAY TO
MAYBE HONOR A VETERAN.
OR EVEN TELL A VETERAN STORY.
BUT HOW IMPORTANT ARE THEIR
STORIES JUST GETTING THE
MESSAGE OUT AND APPRECIATING
MILITARY?
OH, IT IS SO IMPORTANT.
MOST VETERANS WON'T TALK ABOUT
WHAT THEY DID WHILE THEY WERE
IN SERVICE.
ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR FAMILY
MEMBERS.
IF YOU SIT DOWN AND JUST SAY
THANK YOU, OFTENTIMES THE
VETERAN WILL -- WILL TELL THEM
A STORY ABOUT WHAT THEY DID.
THERE ARE SO MANY HEROES OUT
THERE.
THEY HAVE DONE SO MUCH.
Reporter: NOW, YOU ACT AS A
COMMUNITY SER HAVEN'T FOR PARK
RAPIDS WHERE YOU LIVE TO
VETERANS IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
BUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS
BRIDGE FOR YOU AND OTHER
VETERANS IN YOUR COMMUNITY TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE HAVING
REGULAR DIALOGUE.
RIGHT.
I'M THE COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICER FOR HUBBARD COUNTY.
VETERANS OFTEN DON'T KNOW WHAT
BENEFITS THEY HAVE EARNED.
I WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY TO
COME IN AND TALK TO THEIR
COUNTY VETERANS SERVICE
OFFICER.
YOU MAYBE ELIGIBLE FOR
EDUCATION BENEFITS OR
DISABILITY BENEFITS.
IT -- IT JUST IS THE FIRST STEP
IN TRYING TO GET WHAT THEY
EARNED.
Reporter: GREG, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK
YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
SO THE EVENT KICKS OFF AT
8:30 WITH A FREE BREAKFAST THAT
GOES UNTIL 9:30.
THE PROGRAM STARTS AT 10:00
A.M.
FOR THOSE OF YOU INTERESTED IN
COMING OUT, GOVERNOR DAYTON
WILL BE SPEAKING.
WE'RE ANTICIPATING 500 PEOPLE
ATTENDING THE EVENT.
SENATOR AMY KLOBISHAR WILL BE
HERE AND FRANK VASCELLARO WILL
GIVE REMARKS AND ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL SCHOOL STUDENTS AS WELL.
WHEN YOU SEE THE FLAG BEHIND
YOU, IT IS STRIKING HOW
ENORMOUS IT IS.
CAN YOU GIVE US A LOCK THAT THE
SO WE CAN GET A SENSE OF SCALE?
Reporter: WHEN I WALKED IN
JASON AND KIM, I COULDN'T
BELIEVE HOW BIG THIS FLAG IS.
I WAS BLOWN AWAY.
I MEAN, WE HAVE SEEN THE PANELS
BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN -- I
HAVEN'T SEEN THE FINISHED
PRODUCT.
SO TO WALK IN TODAY AND JUST
SEE HOW BIG THIS FLAG IS, IT IS
INCREDIBLE.
WOW.
IT TAKES UP THE ENTIRE ROM!
WOW!
THAT IS NOT EVEN THE WHOLE
THING.
THAT IS ABOUT HALF OF IT.
THE REST OF IT IS TUCKED UNDER.
VERY COOL.
SO NEED TO SEE.
WE HAVE SEEN INDIVIDUALS OUT
AT THE STATE FAIR, SO MUCH YOU
I THINK, SOMETHING LIKE 70,000
PEOPLE SIGNED IT AT THE STATE
FAIR.
THEN ANOTHER 40,000 OR SO
SIGNATURES IN PERSON FROM
PEOPLE.
PRETTY COOL.
HIGH SCHOOLS WERE SIGNING IT.
WE HAD IT OUT AT THE MOVING
VIETNAM MEMORIAL WALL THAT
TRAVELS AROUND THE STATES.
IT HAS JUST BEEN EVERYWHERE.
OUR MILITARY MEMBERS, ON
ACTIVE DUTY DESERVE OUR DEEP
GRATITUDE FOR ALL THEY HAVE
DONE TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT
THE FREEDOMS WE ENJOY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOR AN
AMAZING DISPLAY OF APPRECIATION
FOR OUR MILITARY!
LET'S HEAR IT FOR THEM, FOLKS!
LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THAT.
ABOUT 90 PEOPLE HAD TO HELP
CARRY OUR MORE THAN NAMES FLAG
ON TO THE ICE AFTER THE FIRST
PERIOD OF LAST NIGHT'S WILD
GAME.
IT IS WCCO'S WAY OF HONORING
MILITARY MEMBERS AND THEIR
FAMILIES.
120,288 PEOPLE SIGNED IT.
WHICH DOES QUALIFY AS A WORLD
RECORD FOR MOST SIGNATURES ON A
FLAG.
THIS MORNING, THE MORE THAN
NAMES FLAG WILL BE ON DISPLAY
DURING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF
MINNESOTA VETERANS DAY PROGRAM
AT 10:00 IN INVER GROVE
HEIGHTS.
VETERANS AND FAMILIES,
ELECTED OFFICIALS, COMMUNITY
MEMBER, ANYBODY IS ENCOURAGED
TO ATTEND.
OUR ALI LUCIA IS THERE THIS
MORNING AT VETERANS MEMORIAL
COMMUNITY CENTER FOR A PREVIEW.
HI, ALI.
Reporter: JASON, JUST
WATCHING THAT PIECE OF VIDEO OF
THE FLAG BEING UNVEILED AT THE
WILD GAME LAST NIGHT, WHAT A
SIGHT TO SEE AND WHAT A SIGHT
IT WILL BE TO SEE IT HERE IN
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS.
YOU CAN SEE THE FLAG ON DISPLAY
BEHIND ME.
102 FEET LONG.
YOU CAN'T SEE THE WHOLE THING
BECAUSE IT IS SO BIG AND WE'RE
IN A GYMNASIUM THAT IS GOING TO
HOLD MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE.
SO THAT JUST GIVES YOU AN IDEA
OF HOW BIG THAT FLAG TRULY IS.
OF COURSE IT WILL BE DISPERSED
ACROSS THE STATE.
EACH OF THE 323 PANELS WILL BE
PUT OUT ACROSS THE STRAIGHT.
I AM HERE WITH A SPECIAL
ADVISOR FOR ENDING HOMELESSNESS
FOR VETERANS ACROSS THE STATE.
YOU'RE DOING A BIG EVENT TO
PUSH THAT PROCESS.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THAT EVENT.
THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND
10 MAYORS ACROSS THE STATE AND
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAVE ALL
COMMITTED TO END THE VETERAN
HOMELESSNESS BY THE END OF THIS
YEAR.
50 DAYS FROM TODAY.
TODAY'S PUSH IS REALLY TO
RECOGNIZE ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT INGREDIENTS IN
ACTUALLY ACHIEVING THAT GOAL
WHICH IS FINDING THE PRIVATE
MARKET HOUSING SOLUTIONS THAT
ARE CRITICAL FOR EVERY SINGLE
VETERAN AND THEIR FAMILY FACING
HOMELESSNESS.
WE -- WE HAVE A LIST OF EVERY
VETERAN IN MINNESOTA WHO IS
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
IT IS A VERY EASY LIST FOR A
VETERAN TO JOIN.
ANYBODY CAN REFER SOMEBODY TO
THAT LIST.
JUST BY CALLING 888-LINK-VET.
WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT FOR THE
TWIN CITIES ALONE, WE HAVE 148
VETERANS AND FAMILIES ON THAT
LIST.
THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS THAT
FOR 95 OF THOSE VETERANS, WE
HAVE TODAY, A PLAN IN PLACE FOR
HOW THEY CAN BE HOUSED.
WE HAVE PEOPLE IN PLACE WHO CAN
SUPPORT THOSE VETERANS.
NOT ONLY GETTING INTO HOUSING
BUT STAYING STABLELY HOUSED.
WE HAVE A WAY TO PAY RENT.
THE.
WE NEED A PRIVATE MARKET
LANDLORD WHO WILL STEP UP AND
SAY I WANT TO HOUSE THIS
VETERAN.
I WANT TO PROVIDE A RENTAL
SOLUTION THAT THIS VETERAN CAN
BE IN THE UNIT THAT I OWN.
AND -- AND BE ABLE TO KIND OF
HAVE THIS BECOME THEIR HOME.
THAT IS THE PIECE THAT WE NEED
TODAY.
THAT IS WHAT WE NEED OUR
PRIVATE MARKET LANDLORDS TO
JOIN US AS PARTNERS IN THIS
EFFORT.
Reporter: I KNOW THIS
PROGRAM WAS STARTED NOT THAT
LONG AGO AND YOU SEEN A PRETTY
HIGH SUCCESS RATE.
TELL US MORE ABOUT WHAT THE
PLACEMENT IS LIKE FOR THOSE
MILITARY FAMILIES THAT DO GET
PLACED INTO ONE OF THESE
HOUSINGS.
WE HAVE SEEN INCREDIBLE
COLLABORATION HAPPEN.
AND -- AND BY CREATE THIS TOOL,
WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY CREATING
HOUSING SOLUTIONS AROUND EACH
AND EVERY INDIVIDUAL VETERAN,
BASED ON REALLY UNDERSTANDING
WHAT THEY NEED, UNDERSTANDING
THEIR -- THEIR FAMILY'S
INTERESTS AND WHAT -- YOU FOE
WHAT NEIGHBORHOOD THEY ARE
LOOKING TO LIVE IN.
WHERE THEY ARE CONNECTED.
WHAT SERVICES THEY NEED TO
REMAIN STABLE.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE
NUMBER OF VETERANS THAT WE
HOUSE EVERY MONTH FROM 10
INITIALLY, TO OVER 30 NOW.
AND SO SINCE THIS INITIATIVE
STARTED, SINCE OUR REGISTRY
STARTED, NOT ENA YEAR AGO, WE
HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HOUSE 222
VETERANS IN THE TWIN CITIES.
AND, AND THAT PACE HAS GOTTEN
US TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE
NOW HOUSING MORE VETERANS THAN
WE ARE FINDING.
BUT AGAIN, THE PIECE THAT WE
NEED TO HELP ACCELERATE THAT
PROGRESS EVEN FURTHER AND
ACHIEVE OUR GOAL IS THAT
PRIVATE MARKET SOLUTION WHERE
LANDLORDS COME FORWARD AND SAY
YES, I WANT TO BE A PART OF
THIS.
ERIC THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR SUPPORT THIS MORNING AND
TO ALL THE VETERANS ACROSS THE
STATE THAT NEED YOUR HELP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND ANY LANDLORD IN THE TWIN
CITIES WHO IS INTERESTED IN
JOINING US CAN COME DOWN TO THE
WILDER CENTER AT LEXINGTON AND
UNIVERSITY IN ST. PAUL AT 6:00
P.M.
TONIGHT MAYOR HODGES FROM
MINNEAPOLIS AND MAYOR COLEMAN
FROM ST. PAUL WILL BE THERE AND
RECOGNIZING LANDLORDS AND
HEARING FROM VETERANS.
HAPPY VETERANS DAY.
THE PROGRAM IS AT 8:30.