By JoAnn Biren
Staff Writer
In a recent conversation with Dustin Kremer, the son of Pat and Lisa Kremer, rural Iona, he explained a meeting he had about two years ago with Gina Elise, the founder of Pin-Ups for Vets. Since that first meeting he has been trying to figure out a way to have, according to Kremer, “there is a meet and greet for our veterans in our area.” Kremer is a veteran; he served in the Marine Corps from 2002 until 2008 with tours to Kuwait and Iraq in 2003 and in 2004.
A ‘meet and greet’? Pin-ups? What was Kremer talking about? He was pretty excited as he started to explain the group of women, many with military experience, who dress in period clothing from the 40’s, the era of World War II. Adding make-up, hairstyles and dress of the 1940’s they pose for a calendar that is sold; the profits help veterans in hospitals and nursing homes across the nation. They also visit, in their pin-up attire, veteran homes and hospitals.
This all started Kremer explained in California by a granddaughter of a World War II veteran. “The hospitals and the nursing homes they typically visit are a lot bigger,” Kremer said, larger hospitals and nursing homes to the hospital in Sioux Falls and the veteran’s home in Luverne. And, the ‘meet and greet’ to be held at Van Bully’s in Iona is added frosting on this cake of bringing cheer to the men and women who served our country so valiantly.
Coming to Southwest MN is a dream Kremer had after talking to his Great Uncle ‘Chub’ Stanley Schaeffer, a veteran of the Second World War. “I was hanging out with Uncle Chub and he thought this sounded so neat,” Kremer said of the pin-up calendars and maybe a shot at having them visit the Veteran’s Home in Luverne. The dream is almost a reality. It will take shape On Monday and Tuesday, October 9 and 10. Here is the complete schedule: Monday, October 9 – Luverne Veteran’s Home from 2:00-4:00 p.m. and from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Van Bully’s in Iona. The public is invited and the calendars will be for sale. “We are trying to get word out to the veteran organizations in the area to let them know to come and bring family and friends,” Kremer said. “This is a family event!”
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