Veterans Home

   Since the weather has been nicer, C and I have been spending a lot of time on our bicycles. Most of the time we ride around the lakes in Minneapolis. It's a nice ride, but I wanted something different.  A few days ago,we decided to go through Fort Snelling State Park.

   Along the edge of the state park is old Fort Snelling. It is a historical place in Minnesota and has been rebuilt to what it might have looked like when it was a military post in the 1820s. It was designated a historical landmark in the 1960s. We parked in the parking lot, got on our bikes and rode past the old fort and into the woods. We wound around the woods on the rough trails. This is a good time to bike in the woods. A bit of sunlight still gets to the forest floor and a few spring flowers can bloom. Once the trees leaf out the whole trail is shaded. 

  The end of the trail is near Minnehaha Falls. It is a small waterfall but still impressive. We paused to look at it. There was a good amount of water running. We've seen it during drought when there was barely a trickle going over the falls and we've seen it during periods of heavy rains  rain when the roar of the water can be heard from quite a distant.

  Past the park is the Minnesota Veterans Home. It's a collection of red brick buildings on a beautiful piece of land overlooking the Mississippi River. The buildings are large and well kept. The surrounding grass is green and neatly trimmed. Everything was very clean. Evie, my adopted grandmother who has lived in the area all her life, told me the the Veterans Home was always very well kept. This makes me happy. I like knowing that the veterans living in the facility have nice surroundings. (at least outdoors) 

  Next the the buildings is a park. There is a pavilion and picnic tables. I imagine that those living in the home who are able to get out can spend time with their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in the park. There was some playground equipment there. The park was as well maintained as the area around the buildings. At one end of the park you can look over the rail at the Mississippi River below. You can see Lock and Dam #1 built in 1917. It's been rebuilt a few times since them. It's interesting to watch the lock and dam at work both from the outside and the inside if you happen to be on a boat inside the lock.

  C and I paused a minute to look around and then turned our bikes toward the road to go across the bridge. We were going to go up the Ford Parkway and into Highland Park, an aea in St. Paul. 

  I looked back at the stately buildings of the Veterans Home and nearby park. I wished that Mr. Warren, my father-in-law could have had a nice place like that to live in his later years. He had wanted to live at the Old Soldiers Home in Columbia South Carolina, as a World War II veteran he could have lived there. It would have been the perfect place for him. He would have been around men his own age with similar experiences. He was on the waiting list for a room, but he passed away before one came open. It's unfortunate that some of those who have served in times of war have not had the opportunity for good care when they need it. We do what we can. At least we do have some places for those who served.

For Mr. Warren, You are still loved and still missed.......