(L-R) Executive Director of NUAF John Illikman and board members Shannon Hilleshiem and Lisa Besemer presented a $700 check to American Legion's First Vice Commander Roger Hoffmann and Denny Warta Monday at German Park. (L-R) The donation will help the American Legion with their Salute to Veterans concert being held Wednesday night.

NEW ULM– The New Ulm Area Foundation (NUAF) presented a $700 check to the American Legion in German Park Monday.

The check will go towards the Salute to Veterans concert at German Park Wednesday, July 19. Food will be served by the Legion from 5-7:30 p.m. A representation of Abraham Lincoln will appear at the event and recite the Gettysburg Address. The New Ulm Municipal Band will perform songs from each of the service branches and the National Anthem from 7-8 p.m.

The Legion’s First Vice Commander, Roger Hoffmann, received the check from the NUAF alongside Denny Warta. Hoffmann said the money will also go towards veterans in need.

“We always check with the County Veterans Services office of Brown County. They know of any veteran in dire need and we work with them,” Hoffmann said.

Hoffmann said the Legion is very grateful for the donation and they hope it will continue in the future.

Executive Director of NUAF John Illikman presented the check to Hoffmann alongside Shannon Hillesheim and Lisa Besemer. Illikman said the Legion was chosen from a field of several candidates for the grant.

“We donate to non-profit organizations twice a year,” he said. “The Legion Post 132 applied for a grant in our spring cycle to support the Salute to Veterans concert, so our board of directors approved a grant for $700. We have four pillars of granting focus. They are the arts, education, economic development, and historic preservation. This grant fits in with the arts. There’s some educational aspects, because we’ll have representation of Abraham Lincoln here. And there’s also historic preservation [in this event].”

Illikman said it is a great opportunity to aid the Legion and support them in the services they provide.

“The Legion does a great job of supporting veterans in our community, not only with concerts like this but all the other activities they do,” he said.

Those looking to support the New Ulm Area Foundation via donation and find more information can go to www.newulmareafoundation.org