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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
St. Paul District
Public Affairs Office
332 Minnesota St., Suite E1500
St. Paul, MN 55101

Phone: (651) 290-5807
Fax: (651) 290-5752
cemvp-pa@usace.army.mil 

 

Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair

Published Sept. 18, 2013
Sam Mathiowetz, an equipment repairman at Lock and Dam 1 in Minneapolis, demonstrates how a lock on the nation’s inland waterway system works to one of the young visitors to stop by our booth at the Minnesota State Fair’s Military Appreciation Day on August 27, 2013. Our lock model was a hit with all ages, whether it was the kid that wanted to play with the boat or the adult that’s taken his recreation craft through one of the full size facilities on the Mississippi River.

Sam Mathiowetz, an equipment repairman at Lock and Dam 1 in Minneapolis, demonstrates how a lock on the nation’s inland waterway system works to one of the young visitors to stop by our booth at the Minnesota State Fair’s Military Appreciation Day on August 27, 2013. Our lock model was a hit with all ages, whether it was the kid that wanted to play with the boat or the adult that’s taken his recreation craft through one of the full size facilities on the Mississippi River.

Pulling off Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair isn’t an easy affair, but Mike McGarvey, chief of logistics, and Angie Phipps, equal employment opportunity specialist are two valued St. Paul District employees who optioned to work in the 95-plus degree heat and humidity to tell the Corps of Engineers’ story to the public. Other district employees, not pictured, that were on hand to help were Capt. Andy Maxa, Sam Mathiowwtz, Brad Labadie and Patrick Moes.

Pulling off Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair isn’t an easy affair, but Mike McGarvey, chief of logistics, and Angie Phipps, equal employment opportunity specialist are two valued St. Paul District employees who optioned to work in the 95-plus degree heat and humidity to tell the Corps of Engineers’ story to the public. Other district employees, not pictured, that were on hand to help were Capt. Andy Maxa, Sam Mathiowwtz, Brad Labadie and Patrick Moes.

Sam Mathiowetz, an equipment repairman at Lock and Dam 1 in Minneapolis, demonstrates how a lock on the nation’s inland waterway system works to one of the young visitors to stop by our booth at the Minnesota State Fair’s Military Appreciation Day on August 27, 2013. Our lock model was a hit with all ages, whether it was the kid that wanted to play with the boat or the adult that’s taken his recreation craft through one of the full size facilities on the Mississippi River.

Sam Mathiowetz, an equipment repairman at Lock and Dam 1 in Minneapolis, demonstrates how a lock on the nation’s inland waterway system works to one of the young visitors to stop by our booth at the Minnesota State Fair’s Military Appreciation Day on August 27, 2013. Our lock model was a hit with all ages, whether it was the kid that wanted to play with the boat or the adult that’s taken his recreation craft through one of the full size facilities on the Mississippi River.

Brad Labadie, a park ranger from Eau Galle Recreation Area, near Spring Valley, Wis., escorted Seamoor the Water Safety Serpent around the fairgrounds during Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair on August 27, 2013. Seamoor does a good job of getting everyone’s attention while Labadie talks about water safety and the importance of wearing your life jacket.

Brad Labadie, a park ranger from Eau Galle Recreation Area, near Spring Valley, Wis., escorted Seamoor the Water Safety Serpent around the fairgrounds during Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair on August 27, 2013. Seamoor does a good job of getting everyone’s attention while Labadie talks about water safety and the importance of wearing your life jacket.

St. Paul District employees took on the August heat and humidity during Military Appreciation Day at the Minnesota State Fair on Tuesday, August 27, to spread the word about the district’s missions. More than 94,000 people passed through the turnstiles on what would be the warmest day recorded in the fair’s history.

Manning a booth on West Dan Patch Avenue, dubbed Education Alley, district employees Mike McGarvey, Angie Phipps, Sam Mathiowetz, Capt. Andrew Maxa and Patrick Moes used a model of a lock and dam to show visitors how towboats transit up and down the river through the lock and dam system. They answered questions visitors had about the Corps missions and provided other information about the Corps of Engineers value to the nation and region.

While visitors saw how a lock and dam worked and learned more about our missions, Brad LaBadie, park ranger from Eau Galle Recreation Area, took Seamoor, the district’s jet ski riding water safety serpent out to meet fairgoers and talk about the importance of wearing your life jacket, learning to swim and other tips to be safe while enjoying water activities.