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Duluth soon to be a Yellow Ribbon City

The Minnesota National guard has pioneered a program which empowers community leaders to synchronize efforts and build an enduring network of support for service members and families throughout the deployment cycle. The program, the Yellow Ribbon Community Campaign, is a reminder that supporting service members cannot end when they return home from deployment and the yellow ribbons are untied. 

This month, Duluth is taking the first steps toward becoming one of Minnesota’s Yellow Ribbon Cities by hosting a community wide training. Duluth’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon training will take place on April 21, 2010, from 10-Noon at Spirit Mountain (9500 Spirit Mountain Place, Duluth) and is open to the public. 

"Duluth supports those who serve our country and their families. We call upon citizens and area businesses to join our efforts to make Duluth the premier Yellow Ribbon City in Minnesota. By joining our efforts, Duluthians can help formalize, coordinate, and expand the services that we offer to our service men and women," said Mayor Don Ness.

Leaders and interested persons from all sectors of the community are invited to attend: businesses, churches, educators, youth organizations, medical service providers, public safety and law enforcement, social services providers, and Veterans organizations.

The training will include a welcome by Lieutenant Colonel Barbara O'Reilly, a member of the statewide Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Team, a presentation by a Minnesota Air National Guard member who recently returned from deployment, and breakout sessions on topics that are important in the deployment cycle for service members and their families. Sessions lead by professionals may include: “How Schools and Parents Can Support Military Kids”, “Effective Counseling Strategies for Military Marriages/Families,” “Supporting Military Personnel and their Families in the Workplace: the Law and their needs,” “Benefits, Entitlements, Support Resources, and Medical Help for Veterans.” 

This training is made possible by the generous contributions of Spirit Mountain, Cub Foods, and the statewide Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Team. 

For more information about Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program, visit www.beyondtheyellowribbon.org

For additional information about the Duluth training, please contact Pakou Ly, Public Information Coordinator for the City of Duluth at (218) 730-5309.