A big help during flu vaccine events
Congratulations to our latest Minneapolis VA Volunteer of the month, “Big Don,” as he is known by his peers and VA staff.
Don Belkengren began volunteering over seven years ago, racking up 803 hours with first impression/wayfinding team. If you have an opportunity to meet Don, you’ll understand the “big” reference. At 6’8”, he always has a smile on his face and a joke in his back pocket.
Everyone who knows Belkengren says he has a great sense of humor. He uses that sense of humor to greet and relax visitors at the Medical Center. He is fond of sharing his story of serving on a submarine as a torpedo tube cleaner and being stationed on the USS Sand.
Of course, Belkengren wasn’t on a submarine and there is no USS Sand. That reference is to when he was stationed at Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Texas. Lots of sand and not much sea.
“I went to Boot Camp in San Diego in 1962. Then, I was transferred to A School in Memphis, Tennessee to learn the trade of aircraft structural mechanic,” said Belkengren. After technical training, Belkengren was assigned to the aircraft maintenance division at Chase Field where they supported three squadrons of aircraft. He did a few jobs from fixing hydraulic systems to sheet metal fabrication, where he fixed the skin of the aircraft. Belkengren was discharged from Chase in 1966.
Belkengren said his favorite part of being a volunteer is the chance to help other Veterans. “Greeting and meeting Veterans and their families really keeps me feeling younger than my 82 years.”
Belkengren was nominated on the heels of our Flu Vaccine Clinics, where he made a big difference to the overall operation.
“Volunteer Don is a dear colleague every flu vaccine season,” said his nominator. “Don makes sure the line of hundreds goes smoothly and efficiently, he guides Veterans into the auditorium and guarantees each vaccinator has a Veteran in their chair the moment it becomes free. This helps us serve Veterans efficiently. Don does all this with a smile, humor, and good jokes. Don is a core part of our success in protecting Veterans from flu every season. We all look forward to working with him again in 2025!”