Events honored Linn County veterans

The support and recognition for our veterans during the July Fourth holiday week was outstanding.

I want to send a heartfelt thank you to Perkins on Collins Road, the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Freedom Festival, Connie's Quilt Shop in Marion and residents of Linn County.

Perkins started July Fourth with a 7 a.m. flag ceremony and a free breakfast for all veterans.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels provided booths for Linn County Veteran's Charity Golf Classic, Five Seasons Stand Down and Connie Moyer's quilt to honor local veterans and for veteran Beth Peterson to promote her service to veterans with her book 'Life after Lightning.”

The Kernels then auctioned off special Cedar Rapids Kernels baseball jerseys. Those proceeds will go to support veterans of Linn County.

What can you say about the Kernels first Military Heroes Card set night? The program could not recognize all 18,000 veterans in Linn County, but the 40 they recognized was a wonderful tribute.

Connie's Quilt Shop started making the quilts in March and our office and the Cedar Rapids Veteran Outreach Center will make sure the quilts go to needy veterans and their families.

The Freedom Festival gave out more than 1,000 Freedom Festival buttons to veterans at no cost and the theme was set to remember our freedom and those who served.

The Voices of Hope program was inspirational and entertaining and Connie's Quilt Shop raised more than $1,200 for veterans.

Thank you for your service to Linn County veterans.

Donald Tyne

Director

Linn County

Veteran Affairs