Veterans Day and Activism

I am Scott Yeazle and I am here on the Activist blog to talk about what happens, and what we can do in the community, to make it better. I want to thank The DuSu for giving me this forum to speak on important issues.

Well, I am blogging today on Veteran's Day, so I thought I would talk about one veteran who changed my life and shaped it. My Grandfather, Marshall Yeazle was a World War II veteran fighting in the Pacific. He was a commander of the VFW post 10490 in Parkland, Wisconsin.
He was also the man who raised me. All the time, my Grandpa was running to meetings and events. I saw in him an activist in the community. I saw his caring for others, in his eyes.

One night in my childhood, I was sitting at home with my aunt, who was there to watch me.
She turned on the TV and all of a sudden I saw Grandpa being called up to speak in front of the city council in Superior. He was talking about renaming Highway Two and calling it "Veteran's Memorial Drive". During his speech, I saw his passion for the issue come out. I saw this caring man fight for what he believed in. In the end, he did not win the battle. (The Highway was renamed "Harborview Drive".)

I lived with my Grandfather for the first 17 years of my life. I count those years as true blessings.
I truly believe that I am who I am because of my Grandfather. I find it a little ironic that on September 26th, I received the 2009 Central Hillside Neighborhood Hero Award at Marshall School. I know that Marshall School wasn't named for him, but it was still ironic. I am truly blessed in my current role as Chairman of the Twin Ports Action Coalition. As my Grandfather fought for his fellow veterans, I am now fighting for lower income, poverty-stricken and homeless people. I do my work with the same passion I saw during that city council speech. I have been in front of the city council and the county board, and every time I am, I think of my Grandpa. On Memorial Day, My wife and I had the chance to go to visit his grave. It was a reminder to me that I have an angel on my shoulder.

There are always things going on in the community and this week is a busy one.
Tomorrow (November 12th) is the NHS Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction at Holy Family Catholic Church. I am a proud member of the NHS Board of Directors. On Saturday, several groups will be having a health care rally outside the Federal Building here in Duluth, at noon.
In the Ultimate act of DuSu, I will be leaving that rally and heading to Superior for the "Night Without A Home" sleep out and fundraiser at the Superior Public Library! We will be raising money and collecting food and clothes for people in need. It is activism at its best.