Beyond the Yellow Ribbon reflects on 2023, looks ahead to 2024
Minnesota’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program, known as BTYR, had another busy year filled with events, new members, and planning toward the future.
There are 53 cities and counties in the BTYR Community Network and 79 active BTYR companies and organizations in the BTYR Corporate Network. Their combined efforts are an ongoing commitment that greatly impacts those in the state’s military community.
Community Network
From January to September 2023, the community network, comprised entirely of volunteers, coordinated more than 164 events, served at least 13,791 volunteer hours, and supported over 16,144 military community members. Some examples of the networks’ efforts include helping veterans transition from homelessness to permanent housing, providing transportation to the VA facility, volunteering at unit events, sending care packages to deployed service members, assisting with basic necessities, and recognizing high school students joining the military. The goal for many networks next year is to further increase volunteer participation.
Stefanie Hurt, northern Minnesota BTYR community outreach coordinator, said two of the most memorable events in 2023 were the Joining Community Forces conference at Camp Ripley in May and the Hero Meals holiday initiative, which was supported by community networks and corporate partners.
"JCF provided an opportunity for the networks to come together. It was like a family reunion. It was an amazing experience to have people from all over the state in one room, working together to better serve our service members, veterans, and families,” Hurt said. “The Hero Meals initiative is definitely a feel-good experience. It provides families with a holiday meal, meal stretcher kits, and donated turkeys from Beyond the Yellow Ribbon company, Thomson Reuters. I believe these networks are wonderful in everything they do and continue to do.”
In the fall, Ryan Walker joined the BTYR team as its new outreach coordinator for southern Minnesota. Walker’s grandfather served in the Army during World War II and his father served in the Air Force during the Cold War. He appreciates the opportunity to serve the military community.
“I am looking forward to working more closely with and getting to know the southern Minnesota networks, finding ways to help our community networks develop and enhance local partnerships with other organizations and businesses, and fostering cooperation and coordination between networks,” Walker said.
Corporate Network
The network welcomed four new members in 2023, including the YMCA of the North, Ryan Companies US, Inc., Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures - Grand Casino, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation. BTYR companies and organizations support the military community through many efforts, including employment opportunities, benefits, recognition, and more. This year for instance, Ryan Companies US, Inc. donated baby items for military families at the 133rd Airlift Wing. The Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Wild hosted military appreciation days. General Mills hosted the Minnesota National Guard Women’s Leadership Forum. USAA served as a sponsor of the annual Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair. BTYR corporate networks also hosted Veterans Day observances, volunteered at special events, and supported deployed service member employees and their families.
For Taylor Kristoffe-Jones, BTYR corporate outreach coordinator, the best parts of 2023 included interacting with BTYR companies and learning about their efforts in support of the military community and hosting two corporate conferences. Plans are being made to offer more opportunities for BTYR companies and organizations to interact with one another in 2024.
“We hope to do this through virtual meetings, perhaps monthly and quarterly, that would allow participants to explore a topic and exchange ideas to improve everyone’s program,” Kristoffe-Jones said. “We are also looking to begin a quarterly survey so companies can share their programs’ successes in recruiting, retention, and recognition, employee volunteer hours, and other contributions in support of our service members, veterans, and families.”
BTYR partners unite to provide holiday help
Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, in partnership with Meals From The Heart, Hunters Harvest MN, Cabela’s in Woodbury, BTYR sponsors and network volunteers, and Minnesota Family Programs staff, helped those in need in the military community in time for the holidays through BTYR's Hero Meals initiative.
Together, they provided 275 bags of groceries and 325 packages of meats on Dec. 19. The food was delivered to armories and bases across the state, where service members, veterans, and families who registered for a meal bag received them.
This effort was further helped by the Support Our Troops License Plates grant funding through the State of Minnesota The Support Our Troops grant funds are made possible by Minnesota residents who purchase the Support Our Troops license plates. See more photos from this event on the BTYR page on Facebook.
Department of Transportation now BTYR organization
The Minnesota Department of Transportation was recognized as a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization for its efforts in supporting the military community at a proclamation event at the State Capitol on Dec. 7.
“The Minnesota National Guard values our many outstanding partners across the state, including the Minnesota Department of Transportation,” said Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Sharkey, Minnesota National Guard representative who spoke at the event. “They provide a supportive environment for our military community members in the places where they live, work, and serve,”
In 2018, the Minnesota Department of Transportation received the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. It is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for supporting their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. It now joins 78 active Beyond the Yellow Ribbon companies and organizations across the state.
Governor Tim Walz spoke at the event and read the proclamation which he presented to Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger.
“The Minnesota Department of Transportation is honored to become a Beyond the Yellow Ribbon organization and join with the many Minnesota companies and communities in support of our service members, veterans, and their families,” Daubenberger said. “We are proud of our military community, and we renew our commitment to them through our ongoing efforts to recruit and hire veterans, provide training and development opportunities for our service members and veterans, and connect with and support their family members.”
See more photos from this event on the BTYR page on Facebook.
Military, nation observe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be honored this year on Jan. 16. Also known as MLK Day, this federal holiday is observed in the United States on the third Monday of January each year, around the time of Dr. King's birthday, Jan. 15.
To learn more, visit the Department of Defense website and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute website.
Commentary: Keeping hope alive, strong in new year
By Army Chaplain (Col.) Buddy Winn
Minnesota National Guard State Chaplain
As we ring in the new year, we are filled with hope and anticipation for what is to come. A quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson perfectly captures the feelings we have as we begin 2024 -- "Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering 'it will be happier'..."
2023 was a tough year for some of us. We may have faced challenges that seemed insurmountable, or we may have experienced loss and heartbreak. However, we must remember that hope is what keeps us going.
Hope is what gives us the strength to keep pushing forward and to never give up. As we begin this new year, hold onto hope! Believe that 2024 will be a happier year for all of us! Have faith that the challenges we face will only make us stronger and that the losses we have experienced will be replaced with new blessings and opportunities.
As a chaplain, I have seen firsthand the power of hope. I have seen it sustain soldiers in the midst of war and how it has given them the courage to keep fighting. Let’s be like those soldiers, holding onto hope and facing every challenge with determination and strength.
May 2024 be a year filled with hope, happiness, and blessings for us all.
Reach out.
The mission of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon is to establish and sustain a comprehensive community and corporate support network that connects and coordinates agencies, organizations, and resources to meet the needs of Minnesota's military veterans, service members, and families in all military branches.
The BTYR Bulletin informs, connects, and supports Minnesota's military community and its many partners across the state.
E-mail: ng.mn.mnarng.list.j9-beyond-the-yellow-ribbon@army.mil
Follow: Twitter @BTYRmn and Facebook
Visit: BTYR website
Download: Minnesota National Guard app.
Resources: Minnesota National Guard Family Programs
BTYR Bulletin editor: cristina.f.oxtra.nfg@army.mil