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Veteran support of Coast Guard adds up

Daily Telegram - 2/22/2019

Feb. 22-- Feb. 22--The total amount Superior veterans have donated to members of the U.S. Coast Guard stationed in Duluth shot up to $3,400 on Friday, Feb. 15.

Hours after members of the Thomas F. Stein VFW Post 1091 handed $400 worth of gift cards to Coast Guard Commander Erin Williams, Commander Robert McDermott with the John L. and David L. Banks American Legion Post 418 dropped off another $1,000 worth of gift cards for food and gas at the Coast Guard station in Duluth.

Coast Guard members are comrades in arms, McDermott said, and local veterans felt it was unfair they were not getting paid for their service during the recent 35-day government shutdown. A thousand dollars isn't a lot, he said, but every bit helps.

Combined with recent donations from other Superior veterans organizations -- the VFW gift and another $2,000 worth of gift cards from the American Legion Post 435 and its auxiliary -- it adds up to a strong show of support for the Coast Guard, which has 120 active members serving in five Duluth units.

McDermott said members of Post 418 raise funds annually through raffles and a turkey shoot. Then, they give it all away.

"Our goal is to be almost broke at the end of the year," McDermott said. "Part of our charter is help your neighbors."

Recent donations have included $2,500 to the Dairyland Outdoor Veterans Retreat, $850 to Honor Flight Northland and $500 each to the town of Parkland community center and Parkland Volunteer Fire Department.

Over the past year, Post 418 also donated to the Salvation Army of Superior, Northwest Wisconsin Community Services Agency and the Faith United Methodist Church food pantry.

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(c)2019 the Superior Telegram (Superior, Wis.)

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