By Nathan D. Pike
Madelia, MN
Past MRS-Preston commander 2015-2021
This Veterans Day 2025 we remember those who have served the country and gave of themselves to a greater cause for the continued freedom we enjoy in these United States.
As the first commander of the Memorial Rifle Squad, Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery-Preston, I want to recognize the countless folks who serve the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery Preston providing the time-honored military funeral honors come wind, rain, snow, and blazing sun at the committal shelter on the hill. This non-profit started in earnest with conversation between western Fillmore and eastern Mower County American Legion Posts and Hanson-Raabe VFW Post 4114 members in the spring of 2015. The conversation centered around the idea of having a combined funeral honors squad to serve at Preston Veterans Cemetery that was due to open in the fall of 2015.
After a visit to the Little Falls State Veterans Cemetery near Camp Ripley in the summer of 2015, the conversation refocused on creating a 501c non-profit organization that would stand up volunteer rifle squads to give one day month and be ready to provide military funeral honors when called. Fortunately for me I was able to surround myself with folks that knew how to create and build something. To these folks I am enterally grateful.
By September 2015 the Memorial Rifle Squad was created and recognized by both the Secretary of State of Minnesota and the IRS. We also took to the road covering all the terrain from the Mississippi River, Iowa and to points west near Albert Lea, Kenyon, Zumbrota and Lake City with everything in between. The idea is to gather volunteer squads to step up one day a month. We managed to find volunteer squads from everywhere in southeast Minnesota and northern Iowa.
These veterans give one day a month to provide military funeral honors to veterans being laid in Preston. They take time out of their day, drive many miles for some volunteers, and brave the weather to honor those who have served our country. To these volunteers I say a heartfelt thank you!
Creating an organization is work, this work could not have been done by one person. It took a team. To the team (original executive board members) Steve O’Connor, David Starks, Larry Niemeyer, David Garrison, Gene Halverson, Roger Tangen, Ross Huesinkveld, Jason Marquardt, Rob Gross and Brett Corson, thank you for your hard work to create something greater than ourselves. Thank you for coming with me on that journey.
To the first volunteer squads- Fillmore West, Winona VFW, Preston/Harmony Honor Guard, Mazeppa Veterans Honor Guard, Fillmore East, Kenyon Veterans Color Guard, Rochester VFW, Austin Color Guard, Stewartville Legion/VFW, Rochester Legion, Mabel Legion & VFW, Eyota Legion, Waseca VFW, Lake City VFW/Legion, Lanesboro, Albert Lea, Caledonia Legion/VFW, Steele County Military Honor Guard, VVA, Millville Valley Legion, Wabasha-Kellogg MRS, and finally, Cresco Veterans Color Guard. Thank you for all you do serving our deceased veterans and their families with dignified military funeral honors.
Also, great many thanks to the many community organizations and private donors who provided the initial financial boost needed to start MRS-Preston.
This Veterans Day 2025, I reflect on a decade of service for MRS-Preston and the many who serve and stood up the organization. Thank you for your own service in the Armed Forces and thank you for your continued service with MRS-Preston. To current commander Jon Haugen, keep up the great work.
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