What you might not know about the new State Veterans Cemetery in Redwood Falls
We’re talking today with MDVA leaders Brad Lindsay, Deputy Commissioner of Programs and Services; Andrew Garvais, Director of Veterans Programs and Memorial Affairs; and David Swantek, Deputy Director of Memorial Affairs. This team has been working on the Redwood Falls Cemetery project since 2009. Below Brad, David and Andrew answer some questions about this newest State Veterans Cemetery location, which will be breaking ground on Wednesday, Oct. 13.
Why was Redwood Falls chosen as the site of the State Veterans Cemetery in western Minnesota?
In 2008, the Minnesota Legislature requested that MDVA study the potential for additional State Veterans Cemetery locations. This demographic study, presented during the 2009 legislative session, led to locations in southeastern and southwestern Minnesota being identified as areas serving large numbers of Veterans populations—communities that would support new local Veterans cemeteries. Redwood Falls and Preston were ultimately selected as specific locations in southern Minnesota. The Veterans Cemetery in Preston opened in 2015; Redwood Falls will celebrate its groundbreaking this month. These Cemeteries will be available to serve more than 70,000 Veterans who are estimated to reside within 75 miles of both locations.
After more than a decade, ground is finally being broken for the Cemetery. What were some of the biggest challenges that needed to be overcome to reach this day?
Finding a suitable site for the proposed cemetery was an early challenge. Several locations were explored and analyzed between 2009 and 2014. Both Redwood County and the MN DNR assisted MDVA with property searches. Redwood County officials identified the selected property in 2014 and eventually entered into a purchase agreement with two private landowners. The property sale was completed in 2021 and Redwood County then donated the property to the State of Minnesota in May 2021. The other subsequent challenge was financial: obtaining necessary construction funding from the National Cemetery Administration through a federal grant and additional resources provided by the Minnesota Legislature in 2021.
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Does this site have any unique qualities or present any unique opportunities as a Cemetery location?
In many ways, this property was a blank canvas for our design professionals from Stantec and BTR. The 81-acre site has been used for agricultural purposes in the past, so the wide-open space allowed for a variety of options in developing a layout for the new Cemetery. This site will include trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, perennial flowers, turf grass and extensive native prairie restoration. The prairie restoration will account for much of the new landscape in areas that aren’t designated for burial sites; eventually, the space will take on the appearance of a traditional oak savannah which would have been common in the great plains of this region into the 19th century.
Phase 1 will focus on developing nearly 22 acres of the total 81 acres of land. How long do you predict Phase 1 will take? How many phases in all are you planning? What will drive your planning?
Construction for phase 1 should be completed in late fall 2022, barring unforeseen weather complications. Our current plan is to begin burials at that time and to host an official Cemetery Dedication Ceremony May 2023. The master plan includes a total of 10 phases of development over the next 75-100 years. This includes over 20,000 total available gravesites for caskets and cremated remains. Future development phases will occur as the cemetery exhausts available gravesites.
When Redwood Falls opens in 2023, it will be the fourth State Veterans Cemetery in Minnesota. How does that number compare with other similarly sized states?
With the addition of Redwood Falls and Minnesota’s new Tribal Veterans Cemetery at Leech Lake, Minnesota is one of only 11 states that operates five or more State or Tribal Veterans Cemeteries in the nation.
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Fergus Falls
Luverne
Minneapolis
Silver Bay
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St. Paul
Sadly, an average of 100 Minnesota Veterans die by suicide each year. Two-thirds of these deaths are by guns.
To help prevent Veteran suicide MDVA is partnering with the VA Healthcare System to distribute free gun locks. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a locked gun can mean the difference between a tragic outcome and a life saved for someone in crisis. Though Veterans are well-versed in firearm safety, all gun owners should understand that during emotional or stressful times, delaying access to a gun could mean the difference between life and death. Gun locks can prevent someone in crisis from tragically taking their own life
In an effort to reduce these preventable tragedies, MDVA is offering free gun locks. To request a gun lock, please email MDVA.Communications@state.mn.us with your name and address. This information will not be shared; requests are confidential.
Thank you for supporting the efforts of MDVA and the “Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families.” For more information on MDVA’s suicide prevention efforts, visit MinnesotaVeteran.org/EndVetSuicide.
The Suicide Prevention Unit at the Minnesota Department of Health presents the Suicide Prevention Webinar series. These educational webinars serve as a way to connect and share information. The series includes six webinars with subject matter experts working across the state on these topics:
Sign up here for the Suicide Prevention Webinar Series.
Please contact the organizers: Shelly Dieu at shelly.dieu@state.mn.us or Tanya Carter at tanya.carter@state.mn.us if you have any questions.
In recognition of the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and subsequent Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has created a commemorative coin as an expression of appreciation to Minnesota Veterans who have served since that fateful day. These coins are a limited edition and available for a short time.
Minnesota GWOT Veterans are invited to register for this free coin by visiting https://bit.ly/GWOTvetcoin (registration site works best using Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome or Firefox). If you’re having trouble registering please e-mail mdva.communications@state.mn.us.
Coins will be distributed by County Veterans Services Officers.
Team Rubicon, a veteran-led disaster response nonprofit organization, will be hosting a winter clothing donation drive for the Afghan families who are currently at Fort McCoy, WI and Camp Atterbury, IN. As temperatures drop, winter clothing is needed now more than ever. Team Rubicon is overseeing the management of donated goods at six bases across the US and are looking to the community to help meet the needs of each base.
The Minnesota Twins Baseball Club has generously offered Target Field for the donation drive. The first 500 people to make a donation will receive a voucher for two complimentary tickets to any Twins home game in April or May 2022 (excludes Home Opener, limit of one voucher per vehicle). For more information visit: https://twinsbaseball.com/clothingdrive
LIST OF ITEMS REQUESTED
- Toddler clothing
- Winter clothing-- all age children
- Winter clothing-- adult sizes small and medium
- Athletic style shoes-- toddler
- Athletic style shoes--child
- Winter boots--child
- Winter boots--adult
- Gloves
- Winter Hats
- Baby Formula (powder)
- Gift cards and monetary donations accepted
We can see the end of this pandemic, but we are not quite there yet. We will take concrete steps to keep Minnesotans safe while we get the vaccine to even more people.
The latest COVID-19 updates from the Governor's office are available at mn.gov/covid19.
MDVA's latest COVID-19 updates can be found at MinnesotaVeteran.org/COVID.
The Department of Veterans Affairs appointed its first-ever Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs Oct. 4. Congratulations to Galyn Minkel, MDVA Tribal Liaison, for his appointment to this committee.
The committee will provide advice and guidance to the VA Secretary on all matters relating to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, Native Hawaiian organizations and Native American Veterans.
American Indians, Native Hawaiians and Alaska Natives have a rich legacy of service in the U.S. Armed Forces and have served with distinction in every major conflict for more than 200 years. There are approximately 160,000 AI/NH/AN Veterans across the country.
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All Department of Veterans Affairs facilities and clinics that administer COVID-19 vaccines are accepting walk-ins for eligible Veterans, spouses and caregivers.
This walk-in service ensures all Veterans enrolled in VA health care and those authorized under the SAVE LIVES Act have an opportunity to receive a COVID-19 vaccination from VA at a time convenient for them.
The urgency to vaccinate as many eligible individuals as quickly as possible remains a top priority for VA.
“VA encourages those who wish to get their COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment to check the walk-in hours and requirements at their local facility,” said Acting VA Under Secretary for Health Richard Stone, M.D. “ Individuals taking advantage of walk-in vaccinations may need to wait for the vaccine to be prepared and will be screened when entering the facility.”
To date, VA has vaccinated more than 2.7 million individuals, including over 60,000 individuals under the SAVE LIVES Act. For more information about COVID-19 vaccinations at VA, click here.
VA vaccination clinics are not open 24 hours. Face masks are mandatory for all and physical distancing measures will be in place.
VA has resumed sending debt notification letters for new VBA benefit debts and debts deferred from April 6, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021 due to the COVID pandemic. Collections on medical co-payments created prior to April 6, 2020 and on new medical co-payments also resumed Oct. 1, 2021. Relief options are available if you are unable to repay your debt. You can read more here. Veterans can also use an online tool to check the status of VBA benefit debt and explore options to resolve it.
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