Purple Heart Grants Awarded on Sept. 11

Photo By Master Sgt. Lynette Hoke | A Soldier bows his head while the invocation is said during the Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund (MMAF) Purple Heart Grant awarding at the capitol. MMAF is a non-profit, non-partisan organization calling on Minnesotans to say thanks to Minnesota military and their families who have served in combat overseas since September 2001. Since it launched in August of 2005, MMAF has raised over $6 million, making it the largest organization of its kind in the nation. To date, it has distributed more than 4,600 grants totaling approximately $6 million.  

UNITED STATES

09.11.2007

Story by Staff Sgt. Lynette Hoke 

Minnesota National Guard

By Sgt. Lynette Hoke
Minnesota National Guard Public Affairs

ST. PAUL, MInn. - Minnesota 'nice' took on an entirely different meaning for seven Minnesota Military Service members on September 11th, 2007.

The Minnesota's Military Appreciation Fund (MMAF) granted seven Purple Heart Recipients, from throughout Minnesota, grants ranging from $2,000 to $10,000.

"When our country faced tragedy six years ago on Sept. 11, 2001, and thousands of Minnesotan answered the call of duty," said Eugene Sit, chairman of MMAF and chief executive officer Sit Investment Associates and co-founder of MMAF, "Today we honor a handful of our brave men and women and thank them for their service to our country."

One-by-one the service members were called up to the podium to receive their grant and shake hands with Eugene Sit, Skip Krawczyk and other distinguished members of the MMAF association.

Sgt. Robert Hamilton of Chisholm, Minn. served as part of the US Army Reserve and was injured in Iraq on Dec. 27, 2005 when a improvised explosive device (IED) exploded one meter from his HUMWV, where were was stated at the gun turret.

"I actually bought a house right before my deployment and I can't do a lot of the things that I could do before I got hurt," said Hamilton. "I don't think I would be able to do those projects without the money."

Another Soldier who was given the grant was, Sgt. 1st Class Gerald Page of Brooklyn Park, Minn. served as part of the active Army and was injured March 29, 2007 in Iraq.

"The collaborative efforts of these organizations make it easier for us to come home," said Page. "They are all probably all at the wrong place at the wrong time. It is nothing that we went out and went to earn; it was just something that happened to us."

Other recipients of the award were Army Staff Sgt. Timothy Nelson of Bemidji, Minn. Army Sgt. Brett Pappa of Chalin, Minn. Army Sgt. Robert Beninger of Browerville, Minn. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Michael Cave of Melrose, Minn. and Army Master Sgt. Craig Lia of Alexandria, Minn.

MMAF is a non-profit, non-partisan organization calling on Minnesota's to say thanks to Minnesota military and their families who have served in combat overseas since Sept 2001. Since 2005, MMAF has raised approximately six million, making it the largest organization of its kind in the nation. To date, it has distributed more than 4,600 grants totaling more than $2.8 million.

"This country is great because of people like you," said Sit.

• Date Taken: 09.11.2007
• Date Posted: 09.14.2007 12:23
• Story ID: 12343
• Location: US