COOK - Veterans sat down for lasagna with all of the fixings at Trinity Lutheran Church here Monday, part of a string of events to honor veterans across the region that began last Friday.

While there was plenty of food and conversation, one veteran said he wishes there were more events like it in the region.

Robert Galaz is an adjutant at the American Legion Post 480 in Orr.

“Veterans need to be more recognized other than two days a year,” he said.

While veterans rise to prominence on Memorial Day in May and Veterans Day in November, Galaz said they still exist throughout the rest of the year even when the public isn’t looking.

“We need a lot more for veterans,” he said. “We need an advocate for medical and legal needs among many others.”

Galaz said in his work for the Legion he’s seen too many veterans without proper housing, living in what he describes as “shacks” out in the woods. He said the jobs just aren’t there and, in turn, housing opportunities are scarce when vets come home.

While organizations, such as Disabled American Veterans (DAV), have made more strides to come into the communities of Cook and Orr, Galaz said it’s not enough since many of the veterans need services and pickups at their homes in the back woods, not at prearranged points in town.

He said with falling memberships at some local organizations such as the Orr Legion, Galaz is concerned local vets aren’t getting the help they need.

“We need to keep these guys alive,” he said.

Galaz does applaud moves by the federal Veterans Administration (VA) to allow rural veterans to seek out services locally rather than needing to go to a VA-approved facility.

He said it still is a long way to go and in the interim the VA should allow volunteers to collect travel benefits for transporting veterans in need to VA facilities in Hibbing and Minneapolis.

And as for Monday’s lasagna at Trinity Church, Galaz said local groups like churches could hold more events throughout the year instead of waiting for designated days.

“It’s a chance to share stories without expectation,” he said. “The more knowledge we can get out, the faster we can foster change.”