Submitted Photo Corey Moen is Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of North Dakota, District 3, commander.

A two-day fundraising concert event called Weekend Salute to Veterans 2022 will be held at The Spot in Minot on Friday and Saturday.

Magic City Harley-Davidson and The Spot are sponsoring the concert. It is the first time there has been a local fundraising concert for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, District 3, which includes Minot’s VFW Post 753.

The VFW, District 3, which includes the northwestern portion of North Dakota, generally relies on memberships to fund the local clubs and their various local veterans’ programs. In the latest years, Corey Moen, VFW Department of North Dakota District 3 commander, said the local memberships have been low and now depend on the district to raise funds.

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. today with rock band Judd Hoos, of Black Hills, South Dakota. The band has most recently been on stage with Billy Idol and has its own IPA beer called Hoos Joos.

On Saturday, Jessie G will take the stage at 7 p.m. An active-duty military wife of a Green Beret, Jessie G has been signed under Gretchin Wilson of Redneck Records and toured with those including Kid Rock, Big & Rich and Lynard Skynyrd.

Moen said it is two-fold to be holding fundraising events like this. “One to actually bring awareness to the VFW and what we do on the local and national level, and two, to raise funds and get more people interested in becoming a member. VFW is the oldest veterans advocacy group still chartered by Congress,” Moen said.

Local funding through donations support programs like Wounded Warrior on the national level and Veterans in Distress or Veterans Relief Fund help on the local level, Moen said. He said they are getting funding to veterans with emergency situations and keeping on top of their veteran benefits and pay as well.