As we approach Memorial Day, it is a fitting time to focus on Minnesota’s State Veterans Cemeteries and the important role they play in providing our Veterans with a dignified burial with the highest of quality. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is honored to serve our Veterans and their families at this important time.

Our three State Veterans Cemeteries are located in Duluth, Little Falls and Preston. A fourth State Veterans Cemetery is currently under construction in Redwood Falls and should open by Veterans Day, November 11, 2022. We appreciate the allocation of ongoing operational funding for this project recently provided by the Minnesota Legislature that will allow the cemetery to open on schedule.

We strive for excellence, and I am proud that our State Veterans Cemeteries have been recognized by the National Cemetery Administration (NCA), a division of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The Little Falls State Veterans Cemetery received the NCA Operational Excellence Award earlier this year and was the only State Veterans Cemetery in the country to receive this recognition for federal fiscal year 2021. The Preston State Veterans Cemetery received the same award in 2019.

The awards follow NCA National Cemetery Compliance Reviews that examine 95 standards to ensure the best possible experience for families of Veterans interred at the cemeteries in categories such as Interment Operations, Grounds Maintenance, Headstone, Marker and Niche Cover, Equipment Maintenance, and other standards.

An even more important recognition is the families of more than 10,000 Veterans who have chosen to inter their loved one in a State Veterans Cemetery. We are honored to have earned their trust and confidence as we care for their loved one for eternity.

Our cemeteries have also been leading the agency’s sustainability efforts. We are transitioning our fleet to more fuel-efficient vehicles and swapping out gas-driven lawn care equipment to battery-operated versions. The cemeteries are also striving to decrease water use by implementing water conservation measures.

I invite you to recognize Memorial Day this year by attending an in-person program (for the first time since 2019!) at one of our three State Veterans Cemeteries. All three locations will host an event on Sunday, May 29, the day before Memorial Day, starting at 2 p.m. These programs are always a meaningful way to remember those who have served our country. More details are on our website.

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!