Minn. fund thanks veterans

St. Paul, Minn. — Six veterans - including two Purple Heart recipients - will be awarded grants from the Minnesotans' Military Appreciation Fund on this Veterans Day.

Marine Sergeant, Bryan Axelrod, of Ramsey, spent four years on active duty and served the first eight months of 2007 in Iraq.

He said he's still adjusting to civilian life. He also said that he and some fellow veterans don't always feel like they're appreciated.

Old Guard

"And so to actually have people that say 'Support the Troops' and to show it some way is great. And it doesn't have to be a donation of any sort of money. Just to have someone say we support the troops, thank you for what you've done or what you're doing or what you're willing to do," Axelrod said.

Axelrod said he is grateful for the $500 grant. He plans to put it towards tuition and housing at the University of Minnesota.

Axelrod and other veterans will be honored at a ceremony in St. Paul at 11 a.m.

Since August of 2005, the Minnesota Military Appreciation Fund has distributed more than 7,000 grants totaling more than $4.5 million to military personnel and their families.