Board of Directors

Karen Bowen
board chair

Mike Nevala
vice chair

Jessica Sandle
2nd vice chair

Mark Skeie
secretary

Mary Cleary
treasurer

Craig Acomb

Terry Anfinson

Windy Block

John Degan

Monty Dehn

Jim Fitzpatrick

David Hile

Jim Kielsmeier

Jane Krentz

Joan Peters



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A humble memorial
March 2008


The phalen monument with snow on top and the plaque which reads "In memory of civilian conservation corps personell" A modest stone monument on Lake Phalen’s shore pays tribute to young men who risked their lives to fight fires, plant trees and build our national parks. With stones from every state, the Civilian Conservation Corps built the monument in 1937, dedicated to the thousands nationwide who died serving the CCC.

On June 8, the Minnesota Conservation Corps and CCC Alumni Chapter 33 will celebrate the CCC’s 75th anniversary near the Phalen Park monument site, from noon to 5 p.m. Bluegrass music by national-act Pert Near
Sandstone, a picnic buffet and lumberjack competitions will follow the monument rededication.

The Phalen monument was built by St. Paul CCC Company 4727 and Educational Advisor Ned Mueller to honor fallen comrades.The St. Paul company solicited stones ― delivered by mail truck ― from every state and the U. S. state departments of labor, agriculture, interior, war and even President Roosevelt.

All complied except Secretary of War Harry Hines Woodring. When Mueller asked Fort Snelling’s commanding general for help, he shouted, “Wotinell’s is wrong with you? You got rocks in your
head or sumpin? Don’t you think the Secretary of War’s got better thins to do than to send you some silly rock for your crazy memorial?” When they explained that commander-in-chief Roosevelt had
time to send a stone, the Secretary relented.

Enrollee Clair Foote reflected Co. 4727’s pride in the monument in a message he slipped into
its interior:

“Years from now, should this memorial ever be torn down, maybe from an earthquake or something, since I can’t think of any other reason anyone would tear it down, even though I may be long dead by then, I want everybody to know how very proud I was to be playing even a very small part in the building of this memorial.”

Young Adult Program launches new program year

One corpsmember plays cards, a bald eagle like the one at the Audubon center and crew members striking a pose for funEnergy levels were high as Young Adult Program corpsmembers started training at the Audubon Center near Sandstone, Minn for the new program year.

During the week, corpsmembers learned safety, professional and social skills, program information, and expectations through hands-on activities and presentations. They also enjoyed cross-country skiing and other recreation at the environmental-learning center. “It was really easy to bond with other crews and everyone really got along well,” said Hannah Tvedt, second-year corpsmember.

All 16 crews across the state began hard skills training on Feb. 25 in preparation for work projects the following week. They will meet up again at a midyear retreat June 30 at St. Croix State Park.


Bald Eagle photo courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service
© 2008 Minnesota Conservation Corps
2715 Upper Afton Road, Suite 100 • Maplewood, MN 55119
info@conservationcorps.org • 651.209.9900 •www.conservationcorps.org