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| Parade grand marshals feel a call to duty |
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| Wednesday, 01 July 2009 | |
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Jennifer Larson Staff Writer After graduating high school some children join the family business. Others may attend a parent’s alma mater. But if you’re a male Beimert, enlisting in the armed forces is pretty much a given. Like his father and granddad, Tim Beimert answered the call to duty. The 54-year-old Scandia resident is a Vietnam era veteran. His mother, Helen Beimert, has seen her sons go off to war. She is now holding vigil over a second generation of boys—three grandsons—serving our country. As longtime supporters of Forest Lake American Legion Post 225, Tim and Helen will lead the 85th annual Independence Day celebration during the Fourth of July parade this Saturday at 10 a.m. They will serve as parade grand marshal and honorary grand marshal, respectively. Both are honored to have been bestowed the titles this year. “We’ve been blessed,” said Helen. “We’ve enjoyed the companionship of all those people that work so hard for the veterans.” However, it was quite a challenge for her as she knew first that they’d be leading the parade. Helen had to stay mum almost three weeks until Donny Skow, fellow Legion member and family friend, told Tim the news. “It was really hard to keep my mouth shut,” said Helen. Tim said he didn’t have an inclination, so I suppose it’s safe to say she’s able to keep a secret. Tim’s service A graduate of Chisago Lakes High School, Tim wanted to join the Marines. Instead, he enlisted in the Army, following in the footsteps of his father, Roman Beimert, a Korean war veteran, who passed away in 2000. One of the reasons—second to the family connection—for becoming a military man was that jobs were scarce and Tim was looking for something steady. “And in my family, it’s obvious you’re going into the service,” he added. Tim enrolled in schooling for Heating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) upon returning to the United States from being stationed in Germany. He worked in machine shops to pay for the tuition, but couldn’t find a job in his selected profession after graduation. Tim has been a machinist at Wilson Tool in Hugo for 22 years where he currently works second shift. Tim and his wife, Kris, have been married 32 years. They have three children. He was involved with the annual fireworks display in Forest Lake from about 1977 up until two years ago. A fondness for the booms and color bursts is another thing that Tim had in common with his father as they both helped put on the show. Tim would make the fireworks display his prime Legion service project. He let the state certification as a pyrotechnician lapse now that the Post is no longer setting off the devices. However, the Legion is charged with raising funds to put on the annual show and parade. Tim says that 2008 was the first year he actually viewed the fireworks. “I virtually never saw much of the show,” he said. Helen’s role The 82-year-old also had aspirations of serving our country in the Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). Ladies had to be 21 to enlist and she was only 18. Her father, a WWI veteran, wouldn’t allow it. “My dad was old-school,” said Helen. “He didn’t think women belonged in the service.” She and Roman raised a total of nine children; three from her previous marriage, five from their union and a foster son. The couple settled in the area in 1960, eventually purchasing 80 acres on Manning Trail. Helen was a homemaker for a number of years, but later in life got a job building PC boards and doing inspections. She worked at the Bureau of Engraving for a while before retiring at the age of 62. That didn’t last long, though. One month after retiring, Helen took a job at MotoMart in Forest Lake where she worked for 10 years. Not only did she enjoy the friendships forged during her time there, Helen said it was “the funniest job I ever had.” She has officially been retired 10 years now. Helen’s involvement in the Auxiliary Unit 225 has spanned almost half a century. She served as president of both the unit and the 3rd District. More recently, Helen has not been as involved as she’d like to be due to some health issues. Although she’s put in a number of years of hard work, Helen’s quick to point out that a “great bunch of gals have put in as much time and dedication” as herself. Helen’s hobby of crocheting has been a service to the Ladies Auxiliary today as they make hats and lap robes for the veterans. Freedom With this Fourth of July, Helen’s only complaint is that young people today don’t know what it means to be an American and how they should be proud of it. To salute the flag and love your country, she says. The significance of the holiday, as Tim words it, “is recognition of the freedom we’ve earned and maintained.” That mind-set falls in line with the 2009 theme in Forest Lake of “Freedom—It Works for Us.” The celebration planning and sponsorship is a joint effort of Legion Post 225, Auxiliary Post 225, the Sons of the American Legion and Voiture 44 40 et 8. Social Bookmarking ...       |
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