by Dennis Dalman
When Gov. Tim Walz talked with Sartell resident Phil Ringstrom at the June 13 dedication ceremony for a St. Cloud Vet Center Outstation (see related story), Walz said to Ringstrom, “Thank you for all you did to make this happen.”
Ringstrom was quick to reply.
“It wasn’t me,” he told the governor. “It was WE. It was you, it was the veterans’ services organization and it was Larry Herke (former state commissioner of Veterans Affairs).”
But Ringstrom was being a bit modest – way too modest. In fact, he worked long and hard for 15 years trying to get a Vet Center to the St. Cloud area.
Ringstrom was a naval hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era and later worked at a series of veterans’ hospitals, including the one in St. Cloud, as well as in Sioux Falls, S.D. In Duluth, he was placed in charge of that city’s vet center. Having earned a four-year degree in nursing, he also worked at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland and Balboa Naval Hospital in Orlando, among many others.
In other words, Ringstrom has worked with veterans for many years and understands their deep-seated needs. Throughout the years he had met with legislators and veterans’ organizations, fervently advocating the need for more vet outstations, including one in St. Cloud.
Last year, at the St. Cloud VA Hospital, Ringstrom had a long talk about the need for vet centers with U.S. Secretary for Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough.
The St. Cloud Vet Center Outstation dedication ceremony was something of a family affair for Ringstrom. He and wife Marcia attended, along with their oldest son Paul, their daughter, Annie; her husband, Dale Stanger, and their son, 4-year-old Jay Philip Stanger. His sister, Addie, 9, badly wanted to come along, but she had to attend a school field trip. Also present was Ringstrom’s brother, Bob, and his wife, Barbara. Bob is a former Sartell police chief.
“It was so fun that the kids were there,” Phil said. “The governor even gave my grandson a Governor’s Coin. They were all thrilled to meet the governor.”
He first met Tim Walz about 20 years ago when he was a state legislator from Mankato. At that time, the two men discussed the needs of veterans, including the need for more vet centers.
Ringstrom described the ceremony as “wonderful” because the vet outstation in St. Cloud, at long last, is indeed a dream come true.
Sartell resident and veteran Phil Ringstrom (left) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz enjoy a chat and reminiscences before the opening of the St. Cloud Vet Center Outstation on June 13. The center is visible in the background.
Visitors await the start of a dedication ceremony June 13 of the opening of the St. Cloud Vet Center Outstation.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz steps up to the podium to begin his speech during the June 13 dedication ceremony of the new St. Cloud Vet Center Outstation.
A Color Guard prepares to post flags before the June 13 dedication ceremony of the opening of the St. Cloud Vet Center Outstation.
Craig Towle (holding scissors) prepares to cut the ribbon officially opening the St. Cloud Vet Center Outstation. From left to right are “unknown,” veteran Casey McCulloch, veteran Paul Evangilist, Michael Fisher of Readjustment Counseling Service, Towle, “unknown,” veteran Vincent Smith, St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis and “unknown.”
