Minnesota 851st Vert- Eng-Co Guard builds new facilities for Disabled Veterans Rest Camp

By STEVE MORRIS [email protected]

MARINE ON ST. CROIX – A Washington County gem received an extra coat of polish this week as members of the Minnesota National Guard completed various construction projects throughout the 69-acre Disabled Veterans Rest Camp.

     The 851st Vertical Engineer Company spent 10 days at the Marine on St. Croix retreat working on projects that meet their training requirements.

The 110 soldiers built two 1,600-square-foot handicap-accessible cabins, poured 17 concrete slabs for dumpsters and portable toilets, planted 50 trees and installed hundreds of feet of fencing, among other odd jobs. The 851st left the site today, officials say.

"I was told they were so determined to complete the cabins, their command had to ask them to stop working at the end of the night," Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., said in a statement.

Tom Ferris, the resident manager at the camp, conservatively estimated the soldiers saved the non-profit organization more than $200,000 in labor costs and put its maintenance plan four years ahead of schedule. (The camp had to supply the materials.)

"I am flabbergasted by the amount of work that got done," Ferris said. "It’s amazing."

Among the cabins being built is a two-bedroom unit that will be rented out for $300 per week.

Washington County Commissioner Gary Kriesel said the cabins are good for young returning veterans with families who may not be able to afford an expensive RV.

"It keeps it affordable for young families," Kriesel said

Added Ferris: "We are trying to expand the camp to have more people enjoy it."

Had the soldiers not been at the camp, they would have been working on projects at Camp Ripley in Brainerd, said Maj. Shawn Riffe, the battalion-training officer.

Prior to working at the Disabled Rest Camp, the 851st Vertical Engineer Company (formerly part of the 142nd Charley Company) had been deployed to Iraq, were they worked on construction and electrical projects in Baghdad. They returned in September of last year.
During the deployment, the soldiers built more than 200,000 square feet of office and living space, three combat outposts in Sadr City and installed 288,000 feet of wire throughout the country’s capital.

This morning, local elected officials praised the improvements made to the camp. Stillwater City Councilman Mike Polehna said the work was impressive.

"The change up there is dramatic," said Polehna, also the Washington County Parks manager. "They have made it a lot more welcoming to everyone."

State Sen. Kathy Saltzman, DFL-Woodbury, agreed.

"It’s wonderful to see it being restored to its full potential and being readied for our next generation of veterans," she wrote in an e-mail. "While legislation appropriating $500,000 to this effort was helpful, it was truly the thousands of hours of volunteer labor … which has made the most significant difference."

Riffe said a majority of the solders in his company had never heard of the camp, or if they had, didn’t really know what it was all about. He said he hopes the improvements will encourage more veterans to use the camp.

The camp, located on Big Marine Lake and adjacent to the Big Marine Park Reserve, was founded in 1926 and is only available to veterans and their immediate families.

The camp now features 120 RV sites, 14 cabins (not including two are under construction) and 35-40 tent sites and 65 boats slips.

Kreisel, who said it was important to him the camp remained in the hands of the veterans, said he was impressed with the partnerships that were formed to make the improvements a reality.

"I would encourage any and all veterans to take a ride down there and to see the changes," he said.