THE RIFLE

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER

MEMORIAL RIFLE SQUAD
FORT SNELLING NATIONAL CEMETERY

January 2006

** 45,447 -- THE NUMBER OF VETERANS ACCORDED FINAL MILITARY HONORS BY THE MEMORIAL RIFLE SQUAD, FORT SNELLING NATIONAL CEMETERY, FROM JUNE 19, 1979 THROUGH DECEMBER 16, 2005.

** ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTIONS -- Meeting held Saturday January 7th, Rosetown American Legion, Invocation by Chaplain Gene Schultz; Pledge of Allegiance, Commander Bernie Melter; Reports from Officers and Squad leaders, Adjutant, Finance, Service, Ordnance, Historian, Quartermaster and Assistant Quartermaster.

** TAPS BY LADD BRABEC -- IN REVERENT AND FOND MEMORY, WE PROUDLY SALUTE THESE MEMBERS AND THEIR FAMILIES: Phillip Garcia – 2005, Barney Baird – 2005, Mike Ivers – 2005, Joe Loss -- 2005

**SQUAD LEADERS AND OFFICERS ELECTED AND APPOINTED FOR 2006

Squad Leaders

• Monday — Wayne A.Pickett
• Tuesday — Hugh B. Heckel
• Wednesday — Leo E. Noe
• Thursday — Pete L. Buie
• Friday — George J. Weiss.

Other Officeholders

• Vice Commander -- Clarence L. Dick
• Adjutant -- Robert B. Bowen
• Finance -- Charles P. Korlath
• Quartermaster -- Richard D. Asbury
• Service Officer -- Peter L. Buie
• Ordnance -- Leo E. Noe & Howard R. Tellin
• Chaplain -- Gene L. Schultz
• Historian -- Kenneth E. Hardy
• Officer Of The Day -- Harlan C. Schmiedeberg
• Trustees -- George J. Weiss, Gene L. Schultz, Bernie R. Melte
• Commander -- Ted Nemzek

**ARTHUR SMITH, CEMETERY DIRECTOR --- Joined the Squad for the Annual meeting; welcomed those whom he had not met previously and outlined cemetery plans for the near term. – Mr. Smith addressed the need for the Squad to be flexible while these changes and alterations are in progress, and expressed his appreciation for the Squad commitment.

**FORT SNELLING CEMETERY was established in 1870 – purpose was to bury soldiers who died while on duty at the Fort. --- Authorized as National Cemetery 1939; the first burial as a National Cemetery was Medal Of Honor recipient, Captain George Mallon. – Cemetery covers 436.6 acres. -- 167,641 burials through September 30, 2005.

**Squad Bus was serviced and repaired; it is back on duty

**Status of Defibrillator --- Two batteries have been replaced; -- The hospital suggested not leaving it on the bus until the weather warms to above 32 degrees. --- It will be kept in the office until then. Meanwhile, Radio MAYDAY for emergency help.

**Charles Fouzie ---You may have read the request from Roger Fouzie asking about Charles Fouzie a former member and Squad Commander. --- If you have, or know of, any photos of Charles, they would be most appreciated by his surviving family members

** Memorial Rifle Squad Jackets – Jackets will be available in the athletic style or the longer windbreaker style –Squad member’s pay the first $10.00(Ten Dollars) and the Squad will bear the remaining cost. – Ordering a jacket is optional; they are designed to be worn off cemetery as a recruiting vehicle and to promote Memorial Rifle Squad community relations -- re: the emblem and jacket wording. – Ask your Squad leader for additional information.

**DENNIS CHRISTIE, Service Officer for 26 years, requested to have a successor named. – The Squad gratefully acknowledges the unparalleled dedication Dennis brought to this office for which he receives the thanks from every squad member. He is succeeded by Thursday Squad Leader, Peter Buie, who volunteered to step up and carry on Dennis’ duties as Service Officer.

**YOUR EMAIL AND DIRECT MAIL ADDRESSEES – As we build our lists of both email and direct mail addresses, please be sure to include any ill, retired or inactive members. – If it is at all possible, we want to be certain to send a newsletter to everyone who has an interest in Rifle Squad activities.

**SQUAD CALENDAR

• SATURDAY, JANUARY 7, 2006 --- ANNUAL SQUAD MEETING – 10:00 AM -- ROSETOWN AMERICAN LEGION
• SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2006 -- SQUAD LEADERS MEETING – 10:00 AM --- SQUAD ROOM
• SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2006 – ANNUAL SQUAD DINNER – 2:00 PM – MANCINIS, ST. PAUL
• SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2006 – SQUAD LEADERS MEETING, 1O:00 AM –SQUAD ROOM
• SATURDAY, JANUARY 6, 2007 – ANNUAL MEETING – 10:00 AM – LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED

**WWW.MEMORIALRIFLESQUAD.ORG -- The Web site will take on added luster as Squad member biographies are posted; this is the place where your children’s’ grandchildren will be able to search for you on the internet. They will only need to type your name in their web browser and it will search the Internet, locate the Rifle Squad Web site and magically, the Grandpas and Grandmas from the Rifle Squad will appear. Your personal heritage can last forever and future generations will never forget your personal contribution to the American Dream.

Cyberspace, where the web site resides, has no space limitations; your biography can include as many or as few words as you choose. The important task is to record your story– in writing or on audio or videotape -- so that it can be uploaded to the web site. You don’t have to be the next Ernest Hemingway or even the next Dave Barry; just write your story as if you’re talking to an old friend. It will be great.

-- Your children and grandchildren will cherish forever it. Do it now.

**JROTC – As you and your squad ponder over the decision whether to invite JROTC students to visit your Squad during the summer of 2006 you may want to reflect on who your successors will be and from whence will they come.

**Mike Clark, a member of the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad, and a Vietnam, Purple Heart Veteran, saw the need for an Honor Guard that could perform Veterans Final Honors at cemeteries throughout the metropolitan area. He organized the VVA Honor Guard to fulfill the many family requests for Military Honors at Twin City Community and Church associated cemeteries. Since 2002, his Honor Guard has performed the Final Honors at the funerals of 897 Veterans. This Honor Guard has provided services at Sunset, Hillside, Elmhurst, Roselawn, Resurrection, Acacia, Crystal, Lakeview, Champlin, Crystal, Lakewood, Summit Park, Calvary, and St. Mary’s Cemeteries; and traveled to Hudson and Albert Lea. Because of job and other obligations, Honor Guard members cannot always attend; therefore, it is in need of additional volunteers. IF YOU CAN HELP ANY DAY (S) 0F THE WEEK, please call Mike at 763-323-1336 and he will provide you with all the details. In addition, the Fort Snelling Rifle Squad Web site www.memorialriflesquad.org will have a link to the VVA Honor Guard that will include this information.

**ANNUAL MEETING MINUTES – Adjutant Bob Bowen, assembled and prepared these comprehensive and detailed minutes of the annual meeting held January 7, 2006. Your copy follows this page

Respectfully Ted, Commander