Scaring up some support for the troops this Halloween

A Farmington family has been creating a backyard haunted house to raise money for five years. This year, it goes public.

By JEANNINE AQUINO, Star Tribune

Germaine Beyl doesn't particularly like visiting haunted houses, nor does she like things that go boo in the night.

But for the past five years, the easy-to-startle Farmington woman has done her best to help scare others at the family's own haunted house of witches, mummies, and ghoulish guests. The reason: to support soldiers deployed overseas.

On Oct. 10 and 11, the Beyl family will host the 6th Annual Support Our Troops Haunted House at the Dakota County Fairgrounds. This will be the first year the event is open to the public and held outside the Beyl back yard.

"I do it for community awareness, but most of all I do it for our soldiers. Not just my own sons, but for all the sons and daughters who serve," Beyl said.

The Beyls have two sons in the service, Sfc. Grant Beyl of the 173rd Airborne Division and Ssg. Brandon Beyl of the 2/135 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota National Guard.

This year's haunted house will feature scare stations of easily recognizable Halloween characters, including Dracula, Frankenstein, and Freddy Krueger. There will also be a "Wall of Heroes" photo display to honor local Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, organizers said.

Proceeds will help provide care packages, memorials, cards, and letters for local military personnel who are or have been deployed overseas.

"It's not about what we're doing. It's about what they're doing," Beyl said of the troops. "We have so much to be thankful for because of them. Because of the willingness to serve and the sacrifices they make on a daily basis for us, we can enjoy the freedom that we have to do things like the haunted house."

IF YOU GO

What: 6th Annual Support Our Troops Haunted House

Where: Dakota County Fairgrounds, 4-H Building

When: 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 10 and 11

Why: Fundraiser for local military personnel; proceeds will help by sending them care packages, cards and letters, and present them with memorials

Details: In addition to the haunted house, the event will showcase a "Wall of Heroes" display of local armed forces members. To participate in the display, send photos by mail to: Grant Beyl, 1910 W. 260th St., Farmington, 55024 or e-mail 10horses@frontiernet.net. Organizers would like the name, rank, unit of deployment, branch, dates of deployment, and hometown to be included with the submitted photo.

Admission: $5 minimum donation at door, but larger donations are accepted. Checks should be made out to C.E.E.F. and mailed to Support Our Troops Haunted House, PO Box 124, Farmington, MN, 55024.

Info: Call Germaine Beyl at 651-460-6004

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