Wrapping Gifts For Veterans on KMOT-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader

Wrapping Gifts For Veterans | Video

Amanda Tetlak

12/15/2009

A group of North Dakota National Guard soldiers had a very different task than normal today. The soldiers spent the afternoon wrapping gifts that will be delivered to the Veterans home in Lisbon later this week.

First Sergeant Alan Grinsteinner is putting his artistic touch on the 109 gifts that will be delivered to veterans at the Veterans Home. He laughs as he says, "What man is a professional at wrapping gifts?"

The Army National Guard and Air National Guard take turns making the trip to Lisbon every year and it takes a lot of organizing and planning.

"We work closely with the Veterans Home and get a list of prizes, or gifts that they want to have and once the gifts comes to me, we find a head shopping elf and she`s got blisters on top of blisters buying different gifts and presents," says organizer, Gerald Miller with the North Dakota National Guard.

Then, a group of volunteers puts on the finishing touches. They say they want the veterans to know they are appreciated and their service is not forgotten.

"They volunteered their time a long time ago and it`s our turn to give back," says Grinsteinner.

The volunteers say seeing the smiles on the veterans faces when they`re handed their gifts makes all the paper cuts and volunteered time, worth it.

"They are so appreciative of what we do for them. We`re going to go down there, eat lunch with them, visit with them. Find out about some of their service times. Things like that," says Miller.

The soldiers say it`s the least they can do to spread some cheer to the veterans, especially those who do not have families to spend the holidays with.

The gifts will be delivered to the Veterans Home on Thursday.

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