In late August, Martin "Marty" Howes, the Roseau County Veterans Service Officer, walked out of his small office at the Roseau County Courthouse and headed out the back door.

He walked briskly, talking about a wonderful new deal for Minnesota veterans, some not as limber on their feet as they once were when Uncle Sam had them doing double-time up and down the hills with packs on their backs.

He slid his ID card across an outside door monitor and stepped inside the new garage where boxes and boxes were stacked on two pallets.

"What we have here are around 450 canes that are worth about $13,0...