(ST. CLOUD, Minn.) On Tuesday, Senator Aric Putnam (DFL St. Cloud) attended the official state of Minnesota Veterans Day ceremony at the Mankato National Guard Armory. Tuesday’s event included remarks by the Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard Major General Shawn Manke, the Consul General of Canada in Minneapolis Beth Richardson, and state and local elected officials including remarks given by Sen. Putnam, who chairs the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee.
“Each and every one of us owe an impossible debt to our veterans and those currently serving our country in the armed forces and Veterans Day is a day to honor that service and the sacrifices all of our veterans have made,” said Sen. Putnam. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done to support our veterans here in Minnesota, and I promise to keep fighting to make sure they have the benefits they’ve rightfully earned and deserve.”
Tuesday’s event also included a presentation by the North Mankato Post 518 American Legion Color Guard, music from the Maverick “MAV” Machine Athletic Band, a Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum WWII historical display and a 90-minute PBS WWII documentary film screening following the official program.
In the 2025 Legislative Session, Sen. Putnam chief authored the bipartisan Veterans and Military Affairs Budget Bill. Highlights of the budget are below:
- Fully Funds State Veterans Homes: Provides full operational funding for new veterans homes in Preston, Bemidji, and Montevideo, expanding access to long-term care across greater Minnesota.
- Addresses Veteran Food Insecurity: Expands a metro pilot program for veterans Meals on Wheels to greater Minnesota to ensure veterans and their families can access nutrition assistance programs across Minnesota.
- Invests in Suicide Prevention: Funds specialized County Veterans Service Officer positions focused on suicide prevention, justice-involved veterans, and women veterans.
- Recognizes SGU Veterans of the Secret War: Establishes a formal process to verify and extend benefits to Hmong and Lao veterans who served in the U.S.-backed Special Guerrilla Units in Laos. Creates a task force to develop eligibility criteria in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA).
- Improves Benefits Access: Grants MDVA secure access to state human services data to streamline veterans’ eligibility for housing, healthcare, and financial assistance.
- Expands Education Benefits for Families: Ensures surviving spouses retain education benefits even after remarriage and clarifies eligibility for dependents of deceased veterans.
- Honors Military Families: Creates a memorial plaque on Capitol grounds to honor Minnesota’s Gold Star and Blue Star families, with public input on the final design.
- Pension Offset for Guard on State Duty: Provides a 5% pension credit for National Guard members activated for state emergencies, such as natural disasters.
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PHOTOS ATTACHED:
1) Senator Aric Putnam is pictured with Senator Nick Frentz outside of the Mankato National Guard Armory ahead of Tuesday’s official state of Minnesota Veterans Day event.
2) Senator Putnam listens as MDVA Commissioner Brad Lindsay speaks at a visit to the Preston Veterans Cemetery earlier in the year.
3) Senator Putnam listens as officials discuss ongoing renovations to the Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley during a tour this summer.
Vice Chair of the Higher Education Committee. He serves on the Jobs and Economic Development Committee and Taxes Committee.
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