ST. PAUL, Minn. - Soldiers currently deployed with the 1st Brigade Combat Team come from more than 500 Minnesota communities, but they all have one thing in common - each of them has a family they left behind in order to serve their country.
One Minnesota-based volunteer group has made it their goal to bring these Soldiers together with their family for a meal - even if they are more than 6,000 miles away from one another.
Serving Our Troops, a group of community and business leaders interested in supporting deployed service members, served more than 3,000 steaks to family members of deployed Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen at the RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minn. Feb. 25, 2012. The group also simultaneously served approximately 13,000 steak dinners to service members at five military bases in and around Kuwait City.
This event is "a tremendous opportunity for us to eat a great steak, to connect with our families, to listen to good music and to thank those back in our communities in Minnesota who take time out of their busy schedules to bring a touch of home to us here in Kuwait," said Army Chaplain (Maj.) Buddy Winn.
Throughout the meal, the families were connected with their service member via live video feed and video chats. "This was the best connection we've ever had," said Rhonda Breeding after a video chat with her husband, Army Staff Sgt. Mark Breeding.
"This means a lot to me, it is a taste of home," said deployed Army Sgt. 1st Class Donald Klick. "Knowing that my family is going to have a steak dinner as well, makes me feel good, it re-energizes me."
Seeing the smiles and tears of family members as they exited the chat booths, proved that this day was more than just a meal with the family. For these families, it was a sign of support, encouragement and a ‘thank you' for the sacrifices they make for their country.
"These events help me get through the deployment, because they create milestones to look forward to," said Kelly Guralnik. "I feel blessed to have so many organizations in Minnesota that care about military families, especially since we do not live on an active duty military base. It helps to know that we're not forgotten."
At the event, there was also a program with guest speakers Sen. Amy Klobuchar; U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum; Army Maj. Gen. Richard Nash, the Minnesota adjutant general; 34th Infantry Division commander, Army Maj. Gen. David Elicerio; and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, who was accompanied by more than 20 other mayors from communities across Minnesota. Army Col. Eric Kerska, commander of the 1st Brigade Combat Team and Pat Harris, representing Serving Our Troops, also spoke from Kuwait to the families back in Minnesota.
"The volunteers came together to send a special message to our Soldiers and their families; that we are thinking about them and we care about them," Harris said. "Our message is in the form of a 12-oz. steak that is cooked by some of the best cooks that Minnesota has to offer."
In a video message, First Lady Michelle Obama thanked the Soldiers, their families, the volunteers and, of course, Serving Our Troops. "Year in and year out Serving Our Troops shows that we can all find creative ways to give our heroes the honor, recognition and support they deserve," Obama said.
This is the ninth project for the Minnesota-based group, with more than 70,000 steak dinners served around the world. Judging by the smiles on the faces in Kuwait and the families in St. Paul, it was very much appreciated.