The longest-serving soldiers of the Minnesota National Guard will be home from Iraq by Aug. 1, and Chanhassen Councilor Bethany Tjornhom is initiating an effort to help support the soldiers once they return home.

"We have kept the Soldiers in our thoughts and prayers while they were deployed," Tjornhom said, "But now, when they return from deployment and our yellow ribbons are retired, now is when they need us the most." 

Tjornhom said she's joining the "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon" program, a unique combat veteran reintegration plan pioneered by the Minnesota Guard to improve how soldiers and airmen are reintegrated back to their communities. In the Guard program, members of each unit and their families will be brought together for specialized training and workshops in 30-, 60- and 90-day increments.

To continue that effort once the soldiers are released from their duties, Tjornhom and her husband, Chris, will donate time at their small family resort at Ottertail Lake to any soldier needing to spend some time with their families and re-acclimate back to civilian life.

Tjornhom's efforts are ongoing this week and will be featured in next week's edition of the Chanhassen Villager.