Pay Our Troops

Community Leader "The Colonel" Tom Mortenson, from Detroit Lakes, is urging citizens to stand up for the bipartisan bill that would allow members of the military to get paid during the government shutdown.

Mortenson recalls "times in our history when during the Gulf War in the early 1990 along with the slogan "support our troops", Americans tied and wore yellow ribbons."

Today, we are asking our military members to put their lives on the line without getting paid — while those in Congress still get paid. This is disgraceful!" Mortenson said.

"Our servicemembers are expected to work 24/7/365, defending our freedom. What are those in Congress thinking to think our defenders of liberty should be asked to do it without a paycheck, while those in Congress get paid is unacceptable" Mortenson added.

According to the Colonel, "while both political parties are blaming the other side for closing down the government – the simple fact is we are approaching Oct. 15 when our troops are due to miss their first paycheck since the shutdown began."

Mortenson is urging citizens to call their representatives in Congress and urge them to "PAY OUR TROOPS".