“The biggest impacts are the ones that are made when no one is watching.”

One of the most requested benefits Minnesota Veterans make is dignified and compassionate burial in one of /mdva/memorials/stateveteranscemeteries/index.jspfour Minnesota State Veterans Cemeteries. This benefit is available for no cost for eligible Veterans.

When a Veteran doesn’t have a family member to make burial arrangements or attend a burial service, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) steps in to ensure these unaccompanied Veterans are remembered by a grateful country.

In these cases, it can be a funeral home, County Veteran Service Officer or Veteran organization like the American Legion or Disabled American Veterans that contacts MDVA when there are no available family contacts.

An unaccompanied Veteran recently laid to rest in Preston

For example, an unaccompanied Veteran named Everett was recently laid to rest at /mdva/memorials/stateveteranscemeteries/minnesota-state-veterans-cemetery-preston.jspMinnesota State Veterans Cemeteries - Preston. Robert Gross, the Cemetery’s Administrator, and Sasha Holst, Cemetery Representative, worked with the notifying organization to design a non-denominational service for Everett. The U.S. Navy and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1110 Memorial Rifle Squad provided /mdva/memorials/militaryfuneralhonors.jspMilitary Funeral Honors. Honors included a three-round rifle salute, the playing of “Taps” and the folding and presentation of an interment flag.

During service remarks, Gross encouraged attendees to remember and honor Everett’s service to his country. “They say that a Veteran dies twice. The first time when they take their final breath, and the second when their name is spoken for the last time. I welcome anyone who wishes to visit Everett’s final resting place to say his name—tomorrow, next week and 25 years from today to say his name and ensure that he will never be forgotten.”

A local area committed to showing up for Veterans

Local community members, plus Residents and team members from /mdva/homes/preston/index.jspMinnesota Veterans Homes - Preston attended Everett’s service. Gabby Kinneberg, Public Relations & Volunteer Coordinator at Minnesota Veterans Homes – Preston, said, “We have Residents in house that proudly attend to honor their military brothers and sisters.” Speaking of the range of mobility that Residents may have, Kinneberg continued, “It’s amazing to watch them push through what life has presented them to pay honor to a fallen member of their military family.”

Additionally, Veteran and civilian riders from area motorcycle clubs including the Minnesota Patriot Guard, Minnesota POW/MIA Riders Association, American Legion Riders - Minnesota, Amvets Riders – Minnesota/Wisconsin, and more rode to attend Everett’s service, with full law enforcement cooperation.

Gross adds, “The biggest impacts to our team are the ones that are made when no one is watching. Honoring a Veteran who has no family members provides us with an opportunity to act as honorary family members.”

With no known next of kin at Everett’s service, Gross encouraged those in attendance to receive the flag in his honor and take a piece of brass after the rifle salute.

The Wisconsin Veteran’s organization that contacted MDVA about this service took the interment flag back to display. Kinneberg shared that the Minnesota Veterans Homes - Preston is considering making an artistic display with the brass pieces collected from unaccompanied Veteran services.

To learn more about Minnesota State Veterans Cemeteries, visit /mdva/memorials/stateveteranscemeteries/index.jspMinnesotaVeteran.org/Cemeteries.