NE Minnesota Building Trades aid military families

"I thought I could do something about this issue so I just started it up,"said Jim Renaud, a member of VFW Post 6320. "The response has been great."

"As soon as we were informed of the effort, our members voted unanimously to endorse it," said Craig Olson, President of the Duluth Building & Construction Trades Council. "We have a long history of supporting our troops and their families."

At a Labor Temple press conference, Olson said the Northland Vietnam Veterans Memorial was an all-volunteer effort of Duluth Building & Construction Trades Council unions. Operation Homefront, a Younkers home makeover contest, was another, but nothing like Renaud\’s program, he said.

Renaud said many Army and National Guard members from Cloquet, Grand Rapids,
Hibbing, Bemidji and Duluth bases, as well as full-time military personnel from the region, have been gone from home for a long time. Over 500 families in the 148th Fighter Wing and the Army National Guard in Duluth alone are directly affected "with more on the horizon," according to John Dorin of 194th Cavalry.

"The troops and Guard members leave behind spouses and loved ones that have to try to keep the family and home together by themselves during their deployment," Renaud said. "Having Building Trades members volunteering their skill and labor will really help a lot of families that need it."

Olson said if unions find out a water heater has gone out in a deployed military family home, a replacement will be found at a supplier and a plumber from a union in that area will be sent to do the job.

At a news conference in Wellstone Hall of the Duluth Labor Temple, Building Trades President Craig Olson announced the formation of "Operation Support." Duluth Labor World photo

Mark Vavra of the 148th said when members are going to be deployed, they don\’t worry about what will happen to them overseas, it\’s "what\’s going to happen to my family when I\’m gone?"

"There probably isn\’t another program like this out there," said Vavra. "The question is often asked \’How can we support our troops?\’ This is how."

Dennis Padora, Commander of VFW Post 6320, said Operation Support will take away a lot of worry for families. "It will make their job of serving their country easier," Padora said. "This is outstanding to have the Trades as an asset."

Among area suppliers who have joined Operation Support and will supply materials and equipment at a discount are Proctor Builders, Campbell\’s Building Supply, Hermantown Lumber, Daugherty Hardware, L&M Supply and Home Depot.

For information on Operation Support, contact Jim Renaud at 218-348-8289. If you are a member or retiree of a Building Trades union or have construction skills you\’d like to volunteer, call Craig Olson at 218-724-6466 to be put on that list.

You can also call Yvonne Harvey, AFL-CIO Community Services Program Director, at 218-728-1779 if you have projects or would like to help.

"It\’s a great relief when the community steps up to help,\’ said Michele Nies of the Minnesota Military Family Assistance Program.

Larry Sillanpa edits the Duluth Labor World. Visit the Labor World website, www.laborworld.org