The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has traditionally recognized Memorial Day with events at our three State Veterans Cemeteries and at our five State Veterans Homes. Like last year, we are marking this special day in a different way in 2021, but with the same goal: to honor and pay our respects to Minnesota Veterans who have passed.

Earlier this year, at the State Veterans Cemetery in Duluth, we had the honor of laying to rest Veteran Scott James McMaster. Scott had been working with MN Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV), a non-profit dedicated to helping Veterans, which helped him find housing when he had been homeless. Sadly, Scott had no connection to any living relatives. Because no family could be located, the Duluth Veterans Cemetery staff contacted the National Cemetery Administration to confirm Scott’s eligibility to receive burial at the Veterans Cemetery. MACV served as a personal representative to coordinate cremation with a local funeral home and release Scott’s remains to the cemetery.

Duluth Cemetery staff planned a small gathering and got Scott an urn from “Free Urns for Veterans.” On March 18, 2021, Scott received Military Funeral Honors and was laid to rest at the State Veterans Cemetery in Duluth. Attendees included members of MACV, Veterans that Scott had met in his housing facility, a Military Chaplain, members of the Duluth Memorial Rifle Squad, Cemetery Staff, and the Cemetery Administrator’s family. Most of the attendees had not met Scott prior to his passing, but all came together to honor his life. For all involved, it was a very emotional experience.

MDVA is committed to offering all Minnesota Veterans a final resting place in a Veterans cemetery close to their home. So, we are pleased that the Federal VA’s National Cemetery Administration has offered a grant to build a fourth State Veterans Cemetery in Redwood Falls in southwestern Minnesota. It is our intent to break ground on this new cemetery later this year. It would join our three other State Veterans Cemeteries in Duluth, Little Falls and Preston, and of course the Fort Snelling National Cemetery located in the Twin Cities.

We are honored that Veterans and their families choose burial in our State Veterans Cemeteries, entrusting the MDVA team with the perpetual care of their loved ones. Many of our Cemetery staff are Veterans themselves and find their work incredibly rewarding.

Our three State Veterans Cemeteries remain open and visitors are welcome to visit every day, and especially on Memorial Day when American flags will be displayed along the entrance street and on all graves in the cemeteries. While COVID restrictions are beginning to ease, MDVA made the decision several months ago to hold a virtual Memorial Day program again this year. We look forward to hosting our traditional in-person Memorial Day Program next year.

MDVA is again partnering with Twin Cities PBS-TPT to create a 30-minute Memorial Day program entitled “Reflections: Memorial Day 2021” that will be broadcast across the state on TPT’s Minnesota Channel at 8 p.m. on Monday, May 31 and again on Sunday, June 6 at 8 a.m. We will also have a link on our website to view the program online any time.

As always, if you need information or support on any Veteran issue, please visit our website, contact your County Veterans Service Officer, or contact LinkVet at 1-888-LinkVet.

Thank YOU for your service!