The Memorial Rifle Squad of the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery held its spring meeting at the American Legion Post #46 Little Falls MN on Tuesday March 17 with annual elections. Election results were: Roger Rothstein, St. Martin, an American Legion member of the Paynesville Legion Post #271, elected Commander for a two (2) year term. Bob Mace, St. Cloud, out-going Commander, a member of the Waite Park American Legion Post # 428 elected Vice-Commander for a two (2) year term. Robert Thome, member of the Little Falls Legion Post #46 was elected for a three-year term (3) as Quarter-master. Ken Johnstone, St Cloud, member of the Sauk Rapids Legion Post #254, was elected to the three (3) year Trustee position.
Rothstein will oversee the Memorial Rifle Squad’s 20 units taxed with providing burial honors at the Minnesota State Veterans’ Cemetery near Camp Ripley, Little Falls. The MRS has some 300 members consisting of squads from the VFW, DAV, American Legion, and other veterans organizations from the central Minnesota area. Each unit is assigned to a day at the Cemetery for burial honors in coordination with the Minnesota Army National Guard. There are 1 to 5 burials per day, 5 days a week. Several units are assigned the 5th week also.
The Memorial Rifle Squad was incorporated in August 2001, shortly after the MSVC was up and running. The cemetery (39 acres) is located just off of US Highway 10 north of Little Falls, near Camp Ripley next to the Mississippi River. The cemetery is open to the public for visitation. Any Veteran who served in the Armed Forces and received a discharge under honorable conditions is eligible to be buried in any MSVC.
Rothstein has been associated with MRS September 2008 as the Commander of the Paynesville Legion Honor/Burial Squad. He is past Commander of the Paynesville Legion, past Commander of West Stearns County Legion Council, and very active in the Paynesville and St. Martin Communities.
Terry J Schwab, Adjutant
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