One Minnesota

Honoring veterans and uniting Minnesotans at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery

Each December, a moving tradition unfolds at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis: Volunteers from all walks of life gather to lay memorial wreaths on veterans’ graves as part of Wreaths Across America. This event is far more than a ceremonial gesture — it is a powerful act of remembrance, gratitude, and unity. In honoring those who served, participants also celebrate Minnesota’s rich history and the valor of its people in battle.

For the past few years, this solemn ritual has allowed my family to honor those warriors and servants of liberty who have passed and to remember the sacrifice they and their families made in the pursuit of American ideals: freedom, individual liberty, and equality under the law. On Dec. 13, a bitterly cold Saturday morning, we joined hundreds of people to pay our respects.

Honoring Minnesota’s veterans and history

Ft. Snelling National Cemetery is a solemn resting place for thousands who answered the call to serve their nation. There are approximately 197,000 veterans’ graves at this site, which is one of seven national cemeteries created between the world wars (1934–1939) to expand the national cemetery system. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wreaths Across America is the creation of Worcester Wreath Company of Harrington, Maine. The owner, Morrill Worcester, felt a deep connection to Arlington National Cemetery after visiting it as a boy. In 1992, his company found itself with a surplus of wreaths and saw an opportunity to honor our nation’s veterans. He arranged for the wreaths to be placed on the older, largely neglected sections. In the midst of organizing the wreath-laying, the company found itself accompanied by volunteers from local VFW posts and trucking companies. What began as a humble act to honor America’s heroes in 1992 has grown into an annual event with more than two million volunteers and supporters at more than 5,200 participating locations in all 50 states, at sea, and abroad, including Pearl Harbor, the Pentagon, and Shanksville, Pa.

By participating in Wreaths Across America, volunteers can engage with Minnesota’s legacy of courage and sacrifice. Each wreath laid upon a veteran’s grave is a tangible expression of gratitude, signifying that these individuals — and the values they upheld — will never be forgotten. The act also helps preserve Minnesota’s historical narrative, reminding newer generations of the state’s enduring commitment to liberty and national defense.

A bonding experience for all Minnesotans

One of the most remarkable aspects of going to Ft. Snelling and participating in the wreath-laying is witnessing the myriad groups and hundreds of people who venture out in all sorts of inclement Minnesota weather. Families, kids, Boy Scouts, and churches, like what my family volunteers through, and there is no mention of politics or culture wars, no divisions along ethnic or racial lines, no order of socioeconomic status. People from every corner of Minnesota — urban and rural, young and old, conservative and liberal — come together in a spirit of service and reflection. The event fosters genuine connections among participants, creating a sense of community and belonging that is increasingly rare in today’s polarized world.

The cemetery itself, with its rows of stones bearing names from every era and walk of life, serves as a powerful reminder of the shared heritage and values that unite Minnesotans.

The quiet moments spent at each grave — reading a name, reflecting on a life — encourage strengthening the bonds between individuals and the broader community and represent the mission of the Wreaths Across America organization, to “Remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom.”

Celebrating Minnesota’s valor in battle

Minnesota’s history is marked by acts of heroism and sacrifice, from its earliest regiments in the Civil War to service members in today’s armed forces. Visiting Ft. Snelling is an opportunity to honor this legacy as well as individual stories of valor. For many, the event is a chance to recognize relatives, neighbors, or even strangers who served with distinction, reinforcing state pride and a sense of shared responsibility.

In a state with increasingly ideologically driven social studies, civics, and history courses being taught in public schools, recognizing the brave and selfless acts of our veterans offers an opportunity to combat negative propaganda, see history up close, and shed light on the truth, from Minnesota’s heroic charge at Gettysburg in the Civil War to the men of the 194th Tank Battalion, Company A, which originated as the 34th Divisional Tank Company of the Minnesota National Guard from Brainerd, who fought in WWII’s Battle of Bataan in 1942. In conflicts before and after, there are thousands of reasons to be proud of our heritage and our place in the halls of history, fighting for freedom around the world. Those men and women are now at rest at Ft. Snelling and are worthy of our respect and admiration.

In addition to the nine Medal of Honor recipients interred at Ft. Snelling, 9/11 and United Flight 93 hero Thomas Burnett, Jr., hockey legend and WWII Coast Guardsman John Mariucci, and heart surgery pioneer C. Walton Lillehei are a few of the notable Minnesotans among the acres of headstones you can find there. Many who were killed in war and conflict were tragically young, while others engaged in multiple wars across the globe.

In a world where differences often divide, this act of remembrance stands as a testament to the enduring virtues of service, sacrifice, and solidarity. I encourage everyone to visit Ft. Snelling and read the names on the headstones and reflect on what it means to be free, to honor our history, and to never forget.