BEMIDJI — Nearly three years after a rainy August day in 2021, government officials and community leaders once again gathered at the site of the Bemidji Veterans Home.
But this time, it was to dedicate the long-awaited project, marking a significant milestone for the community and state of Minnesota.
After two years of construction and nearly 25 years of advocacy by veterans and local officials, along with extensive planning and construction, the Bemidji Veterans Home officiated its progress with a dedication ceremony on Monday.
Located at 920 Anne St. NW, the project’s journey began with a vision of creating a home that would offer comprehensive health care and support to veterans in northern Minnesota.
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
The 80,000-square-foot, 72-bed facility was designed to provide a comfortable and supportive environment for its residents and features a gated courtyard, screened porch, theater, dining room, meditation room and chapel. The facility also offers skilled nursing care with specialized dementia care, 24-hour medical services and social services.
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Once construction was completed earlier this year, Jim Larson was welcomed as the facility’s first resident in February and is now a place to call home for 22 veterans, with more to come in the future.
“My team and I are dedicated to serving you just as you have served our country,” Administrator Kevin Gish said to those in attendance on Monday. “And to our Bemidji team, this is such an exciting day, you all have worked so hard to make this place really a home.”
In his remarks, Bemidji Mayor Jorge Prince noted the long journey it has been in making the dream a reality for local veterans.
“This has been something that our entire community, state and federal government has been working on for over 20 years,” he added. “What a real pleasure and honor it is for us to be able to open this home in Bemidji so that our veterans from this city, from this area, from this region have a place where they can come and receive the services they so desperately need and so much deserve.”
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
An array of state officials were also in attendance for the dedication, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Pete Stauber, who all paid tribute to the veterans and the community effort that brought the home to fruition.
“This is what it means to care,” Walz said. “This is what turning the ‘Thank you for your service’ into real life looks like.”
He also highlighted the dedication of the staff, noting, "These are high-demand jobs, they could work anywhere. They chose to work here because it’s more than a job — it’s a mission. They know they're caring for this nation's heroes."
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
Klobuchar commended the community for its support of the project and for the rapid pace at which the construction was completed during a tough time.
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“How quickly you were able to construct this and get it done, it’s just an amazing thing,” she said before highlighting the bipartisan efforts behind the project. “One thing that got it done was the fact that we could show the community support on the county level, on the city level, on the veteran level.”
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
Stauber echoed these sentiments, acknowledging the collaborative effort that made the home possible. He pointed out the significance of the facility in serving the veterans of northern Minnesota, many of whom had previously faced long commutes to access similar services.
“To all of you who have worn the uniform, to the legislatures from St. Paul, many of my friends that were mentioned, to the mayor, township officials, everybody who had an input in getting this done, we say ‘Thank you,’" he added.
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
Community support and future prospects
All in all, the total cost of opening the Bemidji Veterans Home was $51 million, made possible by significant community support and financial contributions.
This included a $30 million grant from the federal government, $20 million from the state of Minnesota, $2.5 million in kind from Bemidji residents and supporters, $1 million from Beltrami County and an additional $250,000 from the city of Bemidji.
Sanford Health also generously donated the 15 acres where the facility was built.
With nearly 300,000 veterans in Minnesota, the new facilities in Bemidji, Preston and Montevideo have the capacity to serve 200 veterans needing skilled nursing care. The Bemidji home currently has a waitlist of about 300 veterans, reflecting the high demand for such services in the region.
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Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs Commissioner Brad Lindsay noted that as the state’s 294,000 veterans age it's crucial to have support ready and waiting for them.
“It is more important than ever that we can care for them in their final years,” he added.
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
Former Minnesota State Representative, veteran and retired educator Bob Dettmer emphasized the importance of advocating for the Bemidji Veterans Home and future initiatives with a famous and poignant quote derived from a poem by Charles M. Province.
“It’s the veteran, not the preacher who has given us the freedom of religion. It’s the veteran and not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press. It is the veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the veteran, not the campus organizer, who gave us the freedom to assemble. It is the veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial. It is the veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote. It is the veteran who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag and whose coffin will be draped by the flag. God bless our veterans.”
The dedication ceremony concluded with a heartfelt prayer from Chaplain Phillip Houser, dedicating the home to the service of veterans and their families.
“We praise and thank you for this beautiful facility and for all who will live, labor and love within its walls,” he prayed. “We thank you for the efforts of all those who have put in time and work to bring it to fruition. Help us all to care for those who have served our great republic. Especially those who, in the words of President Lincoln, have borne the battle and given the last full measure of devotion. It is in their memory and in your most holy name we pray, amen.”
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
County Veterans Service Officers are available to aid prospective residents throughout the admission application process. Those seeking more information can email inquiries to NewHomesAdmissions@state.mn.us.
To contribute as a volunteer, reach out to Maryhelen Chadwick, public affairs and volunteer coordinator, at maryhelen.chadwick@state.mn.us or call (218) 364-8908.
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For additional details, visit the MDVA website at MinnesotaVeteran.org/Homes.
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer
