Fort Snelling National Cemetery - Minneapolis, MN

[Moderator]

Fort Snelling National Cemetery
7601 34th Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55450-1199


Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone] or [phone]


Office Hours:

To Schedule A Burial:

Visitation Hours:

April - October (During Daylight Savings Time)

October - April

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Burial Space: This cemetery has space available to accommodate casketed and cremated remains.

Acreage: 436.3

An information kiosk is located on-site.

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The cemetery is located adjacent to the St. Paul/Minneapolis International Airport on 34th Avenue between Post Road and Interstate 494. From the airport, take Highway 5 to Highway 494 west. Exit at Post Road or 34th Avenue.

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MILITARY FUNERAL HONORS

Fort Snelling National Cemetery (FSNC) is the home of the first all-volunteer Memorial Rifle Squad (MRS) in the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). The MRS performed their first service in June 1979. There is a squad for each day of the week, aptly identified as the Monday Squad, Tuesday Squad, Wednesday Squad, etc. They can provide honors daily for as many as 17 veterans between the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (No services are scheduled on Saturday, Sunday or federal holidays).

The squad members are all veterans and each squad has a bugler who plays Taps. As of June 1, 2007, they had rendered the final salute for 48,673 veterans. To join this elite squad requires only having honorable military service to this country.

This Memorial Rifle Squad has served as the "benchmark" for veterans organizations from other national cemeteries desiring to form an honor guard unit to provide the final salute to deceased veterans. A special note of interest is that their average age is 71.6 years old and they have never missed a scheduled service during their existence because of inclement Minnesota weather.

Memorial Rifle Squad Circle is located on Kraus Avenue and is the location of a Memorial Monument that perpetuates the memory of this elite squad. Please contact the cemetery office for scheduling information.


FLORAL/GROUNDS REGULATIONS

Cemetery policies are conspicuously posted and readily visible to the public.

Floral arrangements accompanying the casket or urn at the time of burial will be placed on the completed grave. Fresh cut and artificial flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become faded and unsightly.

Christmas wreaths or grave blankets may be placed on graves starting Nov. 1 and will be removed starting Jan. 20 of each year, weather permitting. Grave floral blankets may not be larger in size than two by three feet. They may not be secured to headstones or markers.

Permanent plantings, statues, vigil lights, breakable objects, pinwheels, balloons, toys and stuffed animals and similar commemorative items are not permitted on the graves at any time. Unauthorized items removed from gravesites that appear to be of significant value will be held for 30 days and may be reclaimed during this time. Notify the Visitors Center if reclaim is desired of an item that may have been held for 30 days.

Please be aware that small American flags are not considered to be floral items and will be removed from gravesites except during the period of 10 days before to 10 days after Memorial Day.

Floral items should be placed at the side of headstones in line with the headstone row. This allows for equipment operations and prevents damage to floral items. Floral items should not be secured to headstones or markers.

Your cooperation and assistance in helping us to maintain this facility as a national shrine is sincerely appreciated.


HISTORICAL INFORMATION

Fort Snelling National Cemetery is located in Minneapolis, Minn. The original Fort Snelling was established in 1805 near the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. However, it was not until 1820 that a permanent post named Fort St. Anthony was constructed under the supervision of Col. Josiah Snelling. Gen. Winfield Scott was so impressed with the conditions at Fort St. Anthony during his first inspection in 1824 that he recommended the installation be renamed Fort Snelling.

Its original purpose was to keep peace on the western frontier, but in 1855 as the frontier moved further west, troops were withdrawn from Fort Snelling. With the outbreak of the Civil War, the fort was reopened and functioned as both an assembly ground and training camp for Minnesota volunteers. It remained open at the end of the Civil War and continued to be used as a training center. In 1947, the Fort Snelling Military Reservation was deactivated as a post, although it continues to function today as the headquarters for the 88th Army Reserve Command.

The Fort Snelling cemetery was established in 1870 to serve as a burial ground for the soldiers who died while stationed at the post. Following World War I, as new legislation expanded the eligibility requirements for burial in a national cemetery, the citizens of St. Paul organized a petition to designate a national cemetery in their area. In 1937, Congress responded with legislation that authorized a portion of land at Fort Snelling Military Reservation for this purpose.

Fort Snelling National Cemetery was established in 1939 with the first burial on July 5, of Capt. George H. Mallon, whose acts of heroism at Meuse-Argonne in France were recognized with the Congressional Medal of Honor. Following the dedication of the new cemetery, arrangements were made for the exhumation of the remains of those buried at the older post cemetery and the reinterment of the 680 soldiers who served from 1820-1939 buried in Fort Snelling National Cemetery. The 1930s were also a major boom era for national cemetery growth. Ft. Snelling is one of a dozen or so very large cemeteries conceived between World War I and World War II to serve large veteran populations in some cities.

In May 1960, Fort Snelling Air Force Station transferred 146 acres of land to the national cemetery. One more land transfer of 177 acres followed in 1961, bringing the cemetery to its present size. Because of the frigid winters, about 1,000 graves are dug each fall to be used for winter interments.


MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS

Fort Snelling National Cemetery contains a memorial pathway that is lined with a variety of veteran's memorials from various organizations. As of Aug. 2006, there are 64 memorials at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, most commemorating soldiers of the 20th-century wars.


NOTABLE PERSONS

Medal of Honor Recipients

Others

[Moderator]

GATE HOURS

MAIN GATE - HOURS OF OPERATION

When Daylight Savings Time Starts ...

When Daylight Savings Time Ends ...

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GATES 2 & 3 - HOURS OF OPERATION EVERYDAY

Open Monday thru Friday - 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Closed Saturday, Sunday & Federal Holidays

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POST ROAD GATES

CLOSED AT ALL TIMES - Except when being used by authorized cemetery personnel or authorized construction project personnel

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ATTENTION VISITORS

We welcome you to the Fort Snelling National Cemetery. To preserve the dignity, beauty, serenity and safety of these hallowed grounds, we request that you observe our cemetery restrictions and obey all traffic control signs.

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES ARE NOT PERMITTED:

Thank you!
Cemetery Director

[Moderator]

COMMITTAL SERVICES AT FORT SNELLING NATIONAL CEMETERY

The following information is provided to answer some questions you might have regarding the burial of a loved one at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery:

The burial of cremated and casketed remains may only be scheduled for the current month. Burials desired for other than the current month may not be scheduled until the last workweek of the month preceding the desired month for burial. Fort Snelling National Cemetery does not have a chapel on the grounds nor do we have clergymen to officiate at committal services. The funeral director or next of kin must arrange for the services of clergy if so desired. All Committal Services and Military Honors are held at an assigned Committal Shelter. All Committal Services must be scheduled with the national cemetery at which time a designated Assembly Area will be assigned. The Assembly Area is where funeral attendees will gather before being led to a Committal Shelter by a cemetery representative. We have six Assembly Areas and two Holding Areas, all located just inside and to the left, when entering the grounds via the funeral cortege gate. Corteges coming to the national cemetery will proceed into the assigned Assembly Area as close as possible to the scheduled time. If the cortege is more than 15 minutes early or late of their scheduled time, they must report to a Holding Area to prevent them from interfering with another scheduled funeral cortege. Holding Areas A and B are located on either side of the six Assembly Areas. Corteges will be accommodated from the Holding Area as soon as conditions permit.

For Committal Services scheduled with the national cemetery with no funeral director in attendance, but will have the family and friends of the decedent coming to the national cemetery individually, the same procedure should be followed. Funeral attendees will enter the national cemetery via Gate 2, our funeral cortege gate located on 34th Avenue, and proceed to the assigned Assembly Area, being aware you should not enter the Assembly Area prior to 15 minutes of the scheduled time. If you are arriving at the national cemetery more than 15 minutes before the scheduled time, please proceed to the North end of Mallon Road and wait until you are able to proceed into the assigned Assembly Area, and again, should be no earlier than 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time. Please do not congregate around the main flagpole area as it impacts on other visitors conducting business in the Visitors Center. If a funeral home has made arrangements to meet the family and friends at the national cemetery, everyone should have been made aware of our procedures and should meet in the assigned Assembly Area as close as possible to the scheduled time.

All Assembly Areas may also be approached from the end of Mallon Road which is the road that extends North from our main flagpole area. It is imperative that scheduled times are followed in order to prevent funeral attendees for one service interfering with other scheduled services. Because of the number of burials being conducted daily, it is imperative that family and friends of a decedent understand what is expected of them in order that all of the Committal Services scheduled for the day may be conducted in a manner reflecting courtesy, compassion, respect and dignity. Our efficiency and effectiveness depends a great deal on the cooperation and support of everyone using the services of the national cemetery. Fort Snelling National Cemetery is the fourth busiest national cemetery in the nation with an interment rate of over 4,400 decedents a year. A normal day can consist of as many as 35 burials, which is why it is so important that a schedule be adhered to and followed by everyone.

At the scheduled time, a Cemetery Representative will lead the funeral procession to a Committal Shelter where the Committal Service will be held. In our national cemeteries we do not conduct Committal Services at the gravesites because it would create a safety hazard for visitors and would involve the curtailment of other cemetery operations.

An all-volunteer Memorial Rifle Squad will render Military Honors; if they have been scheduled, after all funeral attendees have assembled at the Committal Shelter. The Memorial Rifle Squad provides military honors before any clergy in attendance performs eulogies. This is required in order that the rifle squad may proceed to their next scheduled service. They schedule military honors every fifteen minutes so time is of the essence.

Normally, Committal Services should be completed within about 15 minutes. Again, time is of the essence as another service will be using the same Committal Shelter as your service and we want to prevent services from interfering with one another.

When the committal service is completed please return to your vehicles and depart the cemetery so that our interment team may accomplish the interment. The gravesite is ready for visitation at 4:30 p.m. on the day of the burial. Any floral arrangements left at the Committal Shelter will be taken to the gravesite by cemetery personnel and placed on the grave. A temporary grave marker is placed on the gravesite and remains in place until the headstone or marker is inscribed by a local contractor

Your cooperation in adhering to schedules and times is sincerely appreciated.

CEMETERY DIRECTOR
10/20/03

[Moderator]

FORT SNELLING NATIONAL CEMETERY FLORAL REGULATIONS

Visitors - Please be aware the national cemetery is not responsible for maintaining, replacing or safeguarding floral items placed on gravesites, this includes permanent flower containers.

Fresh cut flowers may be placed on graves at any time of the year. They will be removed when they become unsightly or when it becomes necessary to facilitate cemetery operations such as mowing and trimming. Temporary flower containers are purchased and provided for your use by the cemetery volunteer committee. Please do not remove these containers from the national cemetery. Water is available in the burial areas from April 15 through October 1.

Artificial flowers and potted plants will be permitted on graves during periods when their presence will not interfere with grounds maintenance. As a general rule, artificial flowers and potted plants will be allowed on graves for a period extending 10 days before through 10 days after Easter Sunday and Memorial Day in most cases. Permanent plantings are not permitted on graves at any time.

Floral items should be placed to the side of headstones in line with the headstone row. This allows for equipment operations and prevents damage to floral items. Floral items should not be secured to headstones or markers.

Shepherd hooks, statues, vigil lights, balloons, pinwheels, toys and stuffed animals, glass and other breakable objects of any nature, and similar commemorative items are not permitted on graves at any time. Unauthorized items removed from gravesites that appear to be of significant value will be held for 30 days and may be reclaimed during this time. Notify the Visitors Center if reclaim of an item is desired.

Please be aware that small American flags are not considered to be floral items and will be removed from gravesites except during the period of ten days before to ten days after Memorial Day.

A general cleanup of all floral items in all sections of the national cemetery is started on the eleventh day following Memorial Day. Please retrieve any items that you don't want picked up before the general cleanup starting day.

Christmas wreaths, grave blankets and other seasonal adornments may be placed on graves from November 1 through January 20.

Your cooperation and assistance in helping us maintain this facility as a national shrine is sincerely appreciated.

Thank you!
Cemetery Director
12/3/04

[Moderator]

WHY A MIXTURE OF FLAT MARKERS AND UPRIGHT HEADSTONES ?

On March 1, 1982, the National Cemetery System (NCS) made a major change in interment operations in national cemeteries. The change involved replacing the then two basic gravesite sizes (5' x 10' and 6' x 10') with a new smaller gravesite size of 4' x 8'. This smaller size was a result of the objective to assure the fullest and most economical use of available cemetery land. Additionally, the NCS established that flat markers would be used on each 4' x 8' gravesite. Those cemeteries that had used upright headstones prior to that time would start using flat markers in burial sections that contained the new 4' x 8' gravesite. Other cemeteries that were traditionally using flat markers would continue to use them, but now on a smaller gravesite.

On October 28, 1986, Public Law 99-576, the "Veterans Benefits Improvement and Health Care Authorization Act of 1986" required the use of upright headstones for interments that occur on or after January 1, 1987. One exception allowed for existing unfinished flat marker sections in national cemeteries to be finished with flat markers. A second exception did not require the use of upright headstones at cemeteries scheduled to close prior to 1991.

The problem and alternatives of cemeteries going back to the upright headstones were reviewed and it was decided that the best alternative would be to allow the next of kin to request disinterment from the flat marker section and reinterment in an upright headstone section. Fort Snelling National Cemetery has over 8,200 flat markers located in six different sections of the national cemetery. Because we don't replace flat markers with upright headstones in any of our national cemeteries nor is it planned to ever replace all of the flat markers in a particular section with upright headstones, the only option at this time that the next of kin of a decedent has, is to relocate their loved one to one of our upright headstone sections. The national cemetery shares in the expense of this operation by excavating the gravesite to one foot above the casket or outer container and the opening and closing of a new gravesite in one of our upright headstone sections. We will also order the new upright headstone for the new site. The next of kin must bear the expense of hiring a private contractor to actually perform the disinterment and movement of the remains to the new gravesite.

The change implemented on March 1, 1982, resulted in thousands of burials being made in flat marker sections throughout the National Cemetery System much to the dismay of the next of kin and other family members. The relocation program is a viable option in our national cemeteries for the families who simply cannot bear to have their loved one interred in a section with a flat marker.

We hope this information is helpful to you in understanding how and why this national cemetery has a mixture of upright headstones and flat markers. Further information on the relocation program is available in the Visitors Center of the national cemetery.

CEMETERY DIRECTOR
October 2004

[Moderator]

Gravesite locations and cemetery maps are available at the kiosk in the Visitors Center. You can obtain the information in advance of your visit by clicking on the following link ...

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator
gravelocator.cem.va.gov

You can also obtain gravesite information, Google maps and driving directions on a "smart phone" by accessing the VA's "mobile" website ...
m.va.gov/gravelocator