A Military Burial at Fort Snelling National Cemetery

Fort Snelling National Cemetery

The National Cemetery Administration maintains 131 cemeteries across the country. One of them is Fort Snelling National Cemetery, a few miles from our St. Paul home. I had driven past the cemetery many times but had no reason to go in until recently.

Last Tuesday we attended the visitation and funeral of a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. Al S. joined the Navy at 17 and saw action in Okinawa, the Philippines and other venues in the Pacific Theater. In her eulogy at his funeral mass, one of Al's eight children mentioned that he had carried a burden of grief from that long ago war and, like many other veterans of his generation, suffered uncomplainingly from PTSD.

The graves at Fort Snelling are in sections, with rows of identical tombstones as far as the eye can see, for the veterans of wars fought by Americans since the mid-1800s.The spring winds blew and the birds sang their songs in this lovely, sacred place. I remembered visits to the national cemeteries in Normandy and Arlington, and felt a mix of emotions: admiration, respect and great sadness for the families affected by the immense loss of children, parents, siblings, so many stolen in the prime of life by war. 

Fort Snelling National Cemetery

 

Burials are scheduled by appointment, and we'd been instructed to arrive at 1:20 p.m. for 1:35p.m.  The mourners gathered at the assigned assembly station and the cortège advanced slowly to the appointed venue.

An honor guard from the Anoka Vietnam Veterans of America guided us through the military part of the service. The history and symbols of the ceremony were explained, and a rifle salute broke the peaceful silence of the spring afternoon. A single trumpeter, a Navy veteran, played the Navy song Anchors Aweigh, America the Beautiful and Taps. Though old, the musician was very fit, and his playing was sweet and flawless, with perfect phrasing.

After the presentation of the flag, the deacon moved quickly through the familiar Catholic burial ritual. We left the cemetery in reverent silence.