Going beyond the yellow ribbon

Isanti County seeks to help veterans and their families demobilize by looking them in the eye.

ISANTI COUNTY – The United States spends six months transforming citizens into soldiers. After their tour of duty, the United States spends a couple days talking to them about how to return to normal life.
It’s not enough, according to Bob Boone of Cambridge who retired after serving in the National Guard for 38 years.
Thus he helped create the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign. He sees the need for even more support than that, however. Now that he’s retired from the Guard, Boone is working with the Isanti County Veterans’ Service office to provide help to not only soldiers, but also their families.
The goal is to be there from the alert order through demobilization and beyond.
The folks going off to Iran and Afghanistan don’t have the support soldiers in past conflicts did, noted Boone. Rather, than live together on a base, the Guard soldiers being deployed are spread out across the state. When the soldiers leave, their families deal with their absence on their own.
The goal of the Isanti County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program is to change that.
Organizers Boone, Isanti County Veterans Service Officer Jim Rostberg and Isanti County Commissioner Susan Morris presented their plan to the Isanti County Board on Tuesday, Feb. 3.
From soldier to leaders – if honored
World War II veterans came back to a country that honored them and praised them, noted Morris. They rose to become the leaders in society. In contrast, those who served in Vietnam are still suffering.
The way society deals with returning soldiers has a huge impact on their later lives, noted Morris.
“I want our service men and women to know how much they are appreciated,” she said.
LOOK 'EM IN THE EYE
For the past two years, Morris, Rostberg and Boone have been soliciting grants to pay for the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program. They have received $10,317.10 to fund their efforts.
The program will provide information, services, referrals, and proactive outreach.
And perhaps most importantly, Jim Rostberg and staff will be sure to look each and every veteran in the eye shortly after he/she returns.
The veterans service office will focus on making sure each service member and their family is able to successfully deal with the effects of combat operational stress. “Everyone deals with operational stress differently,” said Boone. “Most deal with it quite nicely. Some have a very difficult time.”
Boone, Rostberg and Morris intend to set up a local Veterans Linkage Line, as well as a web site (isanticountyveterans.org). A directory of available assistance will also be created. Boone anticipates that this will take about six months to get up and running.
Additionally, a task force will be created. A variety of local residents will be asked to serve on it.
A veteran himself who served in Desert Storm, Commissioner Alan Duff applauded what was being done. “The transition to normal family life is a major challenge. We need to help these families out. It’s a neglected area in my opinion.”
Commissioner George Larson complimented the threesome on a job well done. “It’s something that is very needed.”