Photo Essay
South Suburban Labor Council assists Carver project to honor vets

April 30, 2009

WACONIA— Volunteers from the South Suburban Labor Council and Minneapolis Building Trades are helping construct a special Veterans Gallery at the Carver County Historical Society, scheduled for a grand opening November 11 — Veteran's Day. The work has included apprentices, instructors, journeymen and retirees. See Minneapolis Labor Review story.

Above: A military tank sits in silent vigil outside the building in downtown Waconia that thouses the Carver County Historical Society and the new Veterans Gallery. Photo by Barb Kucera

Above: Framing the wall for the Veterans Gallery are (from left) fourth-year Carpenters apprentice Joe Anderson, Carpenters Local 1644 member Rick Peterson, retired Carpenters Local 1644 member (and veteran) Mike Bennett and instructor Leo Tomperi. Photo by Barb Kucera

Above: Pete Parris, Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 member (right), was joined by his sons Nick (left) and Matt (center) who followed him into the trade and Local 10.

Above: Pete Parris takes measurements for new duct work.

Above: Leo Tomperi, instructor from Lathers Local 9190L (left), teaches the math for the radius wall to Lathers apprentice Zack Smith (right).

Above: Zack Smith, Lathers Local 9190L apprentice.

Above: (Right to left) Leo Tomeperi, Zack Smith, Joe Anderson.

Above: The framing for the gallery wall takes shape.

Above: The volunteer labor donated for the project will total about $8,000 — half the project's entire cost.

Above: J.D. Johnson, Carpenters Local 87 apprentice.

Above: When finished, the curved gallery wall will display artifacts and momentos from Carver County veterans going back to the U.S. Civil War.

Above: (left to right) J.D. Johnson, Joe Anderson, Zack Smith, Carver County Historical Society director Wendy Biorn, Leo Tomperi, South Suburban Labor Council organizer Gayle McMahon, Mike Bennett, Carver County Commissioner Tim Lynch.

Above: Volunteer Jay Forby, Painters Local 386 member, is a member of the South Suburban Labor Council.

Above: (left to right) Brian Brazier, project manager for Gephart Electric, and Jim Lesnika, IBEW Local 292 member.

back to top