Scanlon event to salute, support United States troops

The community of Scanlon will show its true colors this weekend – red, white and blue.

A group of community members and volunteers, along with the help of the Scanlon Fire Department and the Carlton County/Pine County Military Support Group, is planning a three-day series of family activities for Friday through Sunday, Aug. 22-24.

Dubbed “Scanlon Salutes U.S. Troops,” the event is a way to raise awareness of and support for Carlton County residents serving in the military, especially those deployed overseas.

“I think sometimes people get a little complacent,” said event co-organizer Karen Hanson, “but the war in Iraq is still affecting all of us on a daily basis.”

Hanson knows whereof she speaks. She has a son-in-law who has served two tours of duty in Iraq, and her other daughter’s fiance leaves on a deployment to the Middle East in September.

The idea for the event first evolved when a handful of members of the city council and town residents put their heads together last May with the thought of coming up with a home-based celebration.

When Pat Sweet, a member of the informal planning group, came up with the idea of planning an event to support the United States troops, the idea received enthusiastic endorsement from the committee.

And so, the first-ever “Scanlon Salutes U.S. Troops” event began to take shape.

All of the profits from the event will go toward assembling and sending care packages to the overseas troops.

The weekend kicks off on Friday, Aug. 22, with a barbecue at the Scanlon Community Center from 6-10 p.m.

Area polka greats Florian Chmielewski and Lorren Lindevig and company will provide live music from 6-10 p.m., and a beer garden will be available as well.

On Saturday, Aug. 23, a flag-raising ceremony will take place at 7:45 a.m., performed by members of the Cloquet VFW Post 3979. Following will be a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, orange juice and milk from 8-11 a.m.

The kids will love the amazing antics of magician Robert Holbrook from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Scanlon City Council chambers.

Wander through vendor tables and a children’s coloring table where kids can color pictures to send to the troops from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and don’t forget to stop by the donation table to find out what you can contribute to care packages for the troops.

There will be fire truck rides and Edith House tours, as well as an emergency medical helicopter on display from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The beer garden will be open from 1 p.m. until midnight, and area firefighters and EMS personnel will take part in the Firefighters/EMS Challenge from 1-3 p.m.

Treasure hunts for children in three different age groups are planned beginning with ages 2 to 4 from 1-1:20 p.m. Donated quarters and trinkets will be hidden in a pile of sawdust.

Following will be a treasure hunt for children ages 5-8 from 1:20-1:40 p.m. and for children ages 9-12 from 1:40-2 p.m.

There will also be a Triathlon for kids ages 5 to 14 from 2-3 p.m., which includes a three-legged race, a gunny sack race and a water balloon toss.

Kids are also invited to take part in ongoing activities during that time, including ladder golf, face tattoos, bean bag toss, and coloring sheets for the troops.

The Scanlon Volunteer Fire Department will put on a Spaghetti Dinner from 4-6:30 p.m., following by the flag-lowering ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

Florian Chmielewski and company will provide live music from 6:45-8:30 p.m., and a DJ from Leif Productions will spin CDs from 9 p.m. to midnight

On Sunday, Aug. 24, a church service is slated for Bethel Lutheran Church, Washington Avenue and 29th Street, from 9-10 a.m. A continental breakfast will be served from 9 a.m. to noon.

Registration for the Intergenerational Walk will be open from 9:30-10:30 a.m. The walk will leave from the Dewey Avenue side of the community center at 11 a.m., head to 29th Street, along 28th Street to Doddridge and along 23rd Street to Lincoln Walkers will then follow 28th Street back to the community center. Families are encouraged to dress alike. There will be a $2 registration fee, all of which will be donated to supporting our troops.

Top the weekend off at the classic car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trophies will be awarded.

Many additional events are planned for Friday night and all day Saturday at the Rendezvous, including volleyball, bocce ball, horseshoe tournaments, a pig roast and live music by “Jury.”

Be sure to drop off your donations for packages to be sent to the troops with the help of the Carlton County and Pine County Military Support Group. A list of suggested items was sent out with the most recent water bills distributed to residents of Scanlon. For more information, contact Hanson at 218-879-0592.

Tags: scanlon, salutes, troops