Hinckley American Legion Post 388 receives Touchstone Energy Community Award

Al Wolter of Hinckley firmly believes that "with most people, patriotism just need a little spark... ."

With Al at the helm, Hinckley American Legion Post 388 lit that spark in Pine County on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, touching thousands of lives with an emotional ceremony of remembrance. The cooperative spirit that made it happen still has community members talking. Receiving ECE's 2011 Touchstone Energy Community Award is, according to Al, "the icing on the cake."

The September 11 event at Brennan Field in Hinckley, MN stretched the organizational skills of a group that's known for its community support and charitable giving.

"Our biggest concern was involving the whole county," said Al, who was appointed by Post Commander Joe Jarvis to establish and chair the planning committee. "We only had two and a half months to do the whole thing. I think to a great degree we succeeded."

The 18-member committee involved as many organizations throughout the county as possible, including schools, youth groups, fire departments, law enforcement, EMTs, other Legion posts, Blue Star Mothers, Disabled American Veterans and even a motorcycle club.

The memories of guest speaker Paul Marten, a New York City firefighter who spent 90 days at ground zero, gave the crowd a personal connection to the tragedy. Co-speaker Al Garber, a veteran and former FBI agent, brought a message of awareness and hope.

"We started off with zero funding," said Wolter, "but Pine County is very generous when it comes to the American Legion and its projects." He designed a button that was sold to cover expenses. The committee was thrilled when it ended up with a surplus of $775, which the Legion donated to a newly-formed volunteer EMT group in the county.

"The feelings run pretty deep in me and everyone in the county," said Al. "It has to do with being an American and being attacked...losing a lot of people. We needed to remind the public, to give the public the opportunity to remember the victims and the heroes of 9/11."

ECE presents the Touchstone Energy Community Award annually to a local organization that has made a difference in its community. As the local winner, Hinckley American Legion Post 388 will receive a plaque and a $500 cash award and will be entered in the statewide competition.



The Pine County 9/11 Planning Committee members were, left right, Al Wolter, Keith Hopkins, Shirley Irlbeck, Marge Fagerstrom, Barb Loiselle, Steve Blackwell, Aileen Croup, Robin Cole, Penni Johnson, Terry Bullock and Joe Jarvis. Not pictured are Don Zeman, Dan Kunz, Rob Prater, Kelly O'Donovan, Lance Hagman, Clark Peterson, and Derrell Jensen.