Sunday, July 15, 2007


Jul. 15, 2007 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) --
After 18 months of being shot at, ambushed or sunburned in Iraq, what could be better for thousands of returning war veterans than a few relaxing days at a North Woods cabin?

Nothing, say resort owners and Minnesota military officials who are trying to make available free cabin time for returning veterans and their families. Such a gesture has been made by more than a dozen Leech Lake area resorts the past two summers, but organizers are trying to spread the good will across the state.

Lt. Col. Jim Swanson of the Guard, who helped set up the Leech Lake program, thinks it's possible to do the same statewide in time for the 2,600 returning Iraq veterans to benefit from it by August, when most of the veterans will be reunited with their families.

'It's a nice thing for the families ... but it would also help out the resort,' he said. 'Most resorts have a cabin or two per week that are open.'

The statewide program is the brainchild of Bethany Tjornhom, a Chanhassen City Council member and owner of a resort at Otter Tail Lake. She and her husband are giving veterans free weeks at their cabins and are trying to get more than 1,000 resorts and campgrounds in the state to participate.

'This is just the beginning of this effort to get [veterans] into resorts,' she said. 'This is just so easy for us to do. ... I just want other people to get on board and do the same thing.'

Tjornhom said she got the idea last month after someone called asking whether trailers could be put on her land to house some returning veterans.

'We can't do that because we're a resort,' she said, 'but, I thought, I do have cabins that I could donate, which would be better than a trailer. Then I thought, 'I wish we could do more,' because there are so many who are deserving.'

Tjornhom contacted the National Guard this month, and the military quickly embraced the idea. She then got the resort association on board.

Building on success

If the Leech Lake program is any indication, the statewide initiative will be a success.

The Leech Lake area Chamber of Commerce, which runs the program, said 200 veterans and their families used it last year. An equal number are being accepted this year and, in fact, all the available weeks are already booked.

'We've had to turn people away, and we feel bad saying no to people,' said Cindy Wannarka of the Leech Lake Chamber of Commerce, which has more than a dozen resorts participating in the cabin giveaway. 'If another community wants to jump in and do the same thing, that would be wonderful.'

Wannarka said Leech Lake businesses also have gotten in the act with each veteran getting a gift basket upon arrival at the respective resorts.

David Siegel, executive vice president with the Minnesota Resort and Campground Association, said its board voted in April to offer returning veterans time at its 500 or so member resorts and campgrounds either for free or at drastically reduced rates.

'I'm sure they're getting overwhelmed with stuff,' Siegel said of the Iraq veterans. 'So you want to do something that is really significant ... they've given so much.'It's phenomenal,' said Lt. Col Kevin Olson, director of public affairs for the Minnesota National Guard. 'I am continually astonished at the generosity of our fellow Minnesotans and how people from all walks of life come forward to show their appreciation.'

Siegel added: 'Resorts have always been that place where people go to connect with nature and ... families, particularly for this reentry process, where you're trying to reconnect.'

Heron Marquez Estrada -- 612-673-4280 --  hme@startribune.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0281-18141609


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