The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-05-28
$4,000 urTrDA"c !"
MINNESOTA GRAVES
Legion Helps Register Graves
of $4,000; Filed With
State Adjutant
MANY ARE FORGOTTEN
Records Completed in Four
Counties-Work Pushed
As Funds Permit

OF the $4,000 veterans of all wars
whose remains lie in Minnesota
cemeteries, the graves of 1000
have been officially registered with
Ellard Walsh, state adjutant gem
eral, through the cooperation of
Minnesota American Legion posts
and units. According to the ad-
jutant general, the last resting
places Of $4,000 veterans have vet
to be placed on record. %ss9 pr
"To the task of identifying the L.
,Inrecorded resting. places. The
American Legion and American Lee
gfon Auxiliary have dedicated
themselves" according to A. IS.
Kapplin, Of Duluth, state Legion
commander, and Mrs. F. c. Barnes,
of Fergus Falls, state president of
The American Legion Auxiliary.
Commander Kapplin continues:
I'm the three wars in which our
country has been engaged since
Minnesota became a territory 1884,
489 Of it's sons and daughters have
answered the call to the colors.
OF these, 21991 served in the Civil
war, 8,498 in the Spanish-American
war and about $4,000 in the World
war.
ut is our desire to perpetuate
the memory Of those defenders Of
our nation who lie beneath our soil.
Numbering approximately $4,000,
they are buried in thousands of
cemeteries. Many have long since
been forgotten, not because Ameri-
ca Is ungrateful, but because there
has been no organized effort to
memorabilia their memory.
TN the past, men have served, re-
turned to their homes, lived, died
and were buried in the family lot.
Many OF these graves are now neg
lected and unknown. On. Memoir
Eiat day efforts are always made to
do honor to our soldier dead, but
as this work passes Into different
hands year by year, records are
lost and many graves receive no
attention.
sUppn Recommendation Of The
American Legion, the state legisla-
ture in 1927 directed the adjutant
general to register by counties the
graves Of veterans of all wars and
appropriated $4,000 annually to con-
tinue this work. Survey showed that
1t would require an army Of field
workers to examine the records of
NJ a. Atn4
then interview the thousands Of rel
atives and friends of those whose
cemetery record might indicate a
war service. This appeared to be
a tremendous task and one which
could not be accomplished by paid
Held workers.
"The appropriations made avail
able by the legislature were barely
enough to pay for the employment
of personnel, printing of forms,
postage and other expense in con-
nection with the consolidating of
the record in the adjutant generals
office, In response to the request
of the adjutant general, the aid of
Legion and Legion Auxiliary MEM
bers was offered" Commander Kap-
pin explains. And Mrs. Barnes con-
tinues:
'sBy state executive action, The
American Legion Auxiliary of Min
nesota in 1929 placed the registra-
ton Of veterans graves in that or
community service pro-
gram. The response was immed-
late all over the state, with the re-
suit that the 400 Legion Auxiliary
units of Minnesota have been in
strumental in officially registering
the graves Of 1900 veterans"
According to Mrs. A A. SchaaI;
Of Minneapolis, department chair
man Of community service, the rec
ords are now complete for four
counties-Anoka, Cook, Lake and
Rock. 1--WE are grateful to the vol
unteer workers responsible for this
record" Mrs. Schaal states.
"A special effort has been made |
to complete as many counties as
possible before Memorial Day this
year. Regardless of the length OF
time required. The American Lee
gfon and American Legion Auxil- |
larry will continue this work until |
every grave Of q former service |
man or woman is registered.
: sIt Is q duty which appeals to
our sense Of responsibility, Of pat
riotism, Of loyalty to our soldier |
dead, and q service in which we |
g L.
played q part. When the roster Of
graves Is finally completed, it win
be published in book form and cop
les viii be furnished to all civic and |
patriotic organizations.
This will be supplemented by
additional lists each year and will |
make It possible co. take such ac-
Hon a.: Is necsssary:sto memorabilia
these veterans and devise definite |
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