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Trumpeteer - Summer 2026

July - August - September 2026

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An amazing thing happened at Minnesota Boys State. One of the delegates sponsored by Bloomington Post 550 was elected governor! Carter Klein is going to be a senior this fall at Jefferson High School. We hope he can come to a post meeting soon.



National Cmdr. Dan Wiley, center, accepts a $4,000 donation from Post 550 for the American Legion Veterans & Children Fund. Presenting it to him during his visit to New Prague Post 45 in April are Post 550’s Tim Engstrom and Paul Hassing.



Minnesota American National Guard Capt. Jake Murphy, judge advocate for the 84th Troop Command, speaks at the Memorial Day ceremony at Bloomington Cemetery. In civilian life, he is a Ramsey County assistant attorney.


Classic cars snake their way down Lyndale Avenue for the Memorial Day Parade held by Post 550 and VFW Post 1296. The parade grows larger every year, with more classic automobiles than ever before.



Post 550 Sergeant-at-Arms Mike Mellin, in back, swears in the new officers. From left are Cmdr. Shaun Einecke, 1st Vice Cmdr. Warren Christopherson, 2nd Vice Cmdr. Chad Nazda, Adjutant Tim Engstrom and Finance Officer Blaine Beste.


Blaine Beste, at the end of his last meeting as commander, awarded Legionnaire of the Year plaques to two members, Rick Skinn and Jim Mead, for membership efforts and volunteerism. They each received special Post 550 cribbage boards, too.



Not only was Carter Klein elected governor, he received a scholarship as the winner of the Chic & William Zweiner Award for Outstanding Boys Stater. He will be sent to Boys Nation in Washington, D.C., July 17-24. There, he will be the senior senator from Minnesota. He could be elected Boys Nation president. Presenting is Boys State Director Kyle Oldre.



The Bloomington Veterans Honor Guard brings flags from the post’s flag box to the Veterans Campground north of Hugo. On the Saturday closest to Flag Day, they are ceremonially retired.



On May 5, the city held a groundbreaking for the Nine Mile Creek Corridor Renewal, which includes the Bloomington Veterans Memorial. Post 550 and Bloomington Remembers Veterans were on hand.


At the June meeting, Commander Blaine Beste places a commander cap on new commander Shaun Einecke. Also, Don Alman presents 2025-26 Membership Director Einecke with a check and certificate from the 10th District for achieving 105 percent.




Post 550 Annual Calendar

  • July 3, 5-10:30 p.m.: Summer Fete at Normandale Lake Park (see the Bloomington Veterans Honor Guard lead off the festivities; Post 550 is one of the sponsors of Summer Fete)

  • July 10 & 11, 9 a.m.-dusk: American Legion Baseball at Haddox Field (Gopher Classic Tournament), 9 a.m.-dusk

  • Aug. 29, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Summer Picnic at Bloomington’s Veterans Club, with Band Blitz, dunk tank and more

  • Sept. 30, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.: Minnesota Veteran Suicide Prevention Summit at Bloomington’s Veterans Club, with healthcare professionals, policymakers and other resources

  • Oct. 27, 5-7 p.m.: Early Bird Membership Dinner at Bloomington’s Veterans Club

  • November: Clothing drive at post, with donations given to nonprofit Every Third Saturday

  • Nov. 11, 11 a.m.: Veterans Day observance at Bloomington’s Veterans Club

  • Dec. 19, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Children’s Christmas Party at Bloomington’s Veterans Club, with Kennedy Show Choir singing noon-1 p.m.

  • May 31, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.: Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony, South Lyndale Avenue then Bloomington Cemetery

  • May 31, 11:30 a.m.: Memorial Day observance at Dawn Valley Cemetery

  • May 31, 12:30 p.m.: Memorial Day flag ceremony at Bloomington’s Veterans Club

  • Every Thursday, around 3:30 p.m. during warm months: Huey Exhaust, cigar smoking and camaraderie on the patio


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