After reading the Twins Platoon, Anthony Johnson, United States Air Force, Alaska, wanted to do something to show Vietnam Veterans his appreciation and gratitude for their service to our country. At his own expense he designed and paid to have a commemorative coin made for each member of the Twins Platoon.

See Coin here then click on photo to enlarge it.

http://www.teensreadtoo.com/NYPL07Page3.html
www.amazon.com/2007-NYPL-quot-Books-Teen/lm/R3QPF0D0EXA50N

The Television special “Spotlight-The Twins Platoon” originally aired in July 2007. It went on to win a regional Emmy for “Outstanding Documentary” and the Hatch Award for “Outstanding Marine Corps Documentary”. The military stories in the documentary are taken from the book “The Twins Platoon” by Christy Sauro. Fox Sports North (FSN) producer Trevor Fleck is pictured holding the awards.

The Twins Cities based Marine Wing Support Squadron 471 presented the author with a plaque for writing the book. The author was the 2006 Guest of Honor at 231st Marine Corps Birthday Ball. The plaque reads in part, “we wish to recognise your contributions to the history of the United States Marine Corps and the State of Minnesota.”

With unanimous support from the legislature, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed into law that March 29th is Vietnam Veterans Day. The pen is being given to Diane Finnemann, the sister of Twins Platoon member Wallace “Skip” Schmidt. She was a driving force behind the legislation. The author of the bill, Representative Larry Howes of Walker, Minnesota peers over her shoulder sharing the moment. The new law will change for the better the way many Vietnam Veterans view their service to our country and state.

It is worthwhile to listen to what Governor Pawlenty’s had to say about our Veterans. Click on the below link to hear the Govenor’s pod cast. It is 15 minutes long, so it may take a few minutes to load after you click on the link.

http://www.libsyn.com/media/pawlenty/3.27.09_Vietnam_Veterans_Day.mp3
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You can click on the link below to watch the House Floor Vote on March 17th. Then go to the right of the page and click on enhanced version. This Bill was the last one up for vote, so you need to advance the video approx. 2/3 rds of the way through. The link below will change as the legislation proceeds. Your time to view the current proceedings is temporary.
http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/archivesHFS.asp?ls_year=85

Diane Finnemann and the author of the Twins Platoon, Chris Sauro Jr., again gave testimony. This time at the Senate Hearing. The bill passed through the Senate. Representative Larry Howes, the author of this legislation, continues to receive string support. Updates may be found on the State Web site.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/archivesCOM.asp?ls_year=85

House Veterans Affairs Division
Friday, February 15 2008
HF2582 (Howes) Vietnam Veterans Day designated as March 29.

Click on the link below to watch the first hearing about making March 29th, Vietnam Veterans Day. Diane Finnemann and the author of the Twins Platoon, Chris Sauro Jr., gave testimony. The below link will take you to the State web site. Then scroll down to the “House Veterans Affairs Division” to “HF2582 (Howes)”. To the right of it under “Watch and listen” you click on “enhanced version”. This will launch Media Player and you can watch the hearing. You may want to advance about 8 minutes and 34 seconds to the start of the session. The time period to watch this event is limited and may be lost as the State updates its site.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/htv/archivesCOM.asp?ls_year=85

Here is the link to open the Sessions Weekly. On page 13 is the photo and news brief of the author testifying. Sessions Weekly