State Veterans Cemetery

Veterans

Minnesota State Cemetery - Little Falls
15550 Hwy 115
Little Falls, MN  56345-5614
320-616-2527

Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Preston
715 Highway 52
Preston, MN 55965
507-765-7320

Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery - Duluth
4777 Highway 53
Saginaw, MN 55779
218-520-0120

www.mdva.state.mn.us

Hours of Operation: 
Grounds: Daylight Hours, 7 days per week. 
Office: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (closed on State Holidays) 
 

What is Provided?
Gravesite: next available, no pre-selection

Headstone: standard government upright granite

Perpetual Care: gravesites maintained by cemetery personnel

Lawn Crypts/Grave-liners/Vaults:  Effective November 1, 2003, a pre-placed grave-liner (lawn crypt) will be provided by the cemetery for all casket burials in sections 10, 11 and 12.  Assignment of gravesites in sections 10, 11 and 12 will be based on a first come, first served basis.

All burials in section 1 will require a grave-liner/vault which will need to be purchased through the chosen funeral director.  Section 1 is the only casket burial section which has been used since the cemetery opened in June, 1994.  After November 1, 2003, section 1 will only be used for the interment of individuals with spouses already buried at the cemetery or for individuals who choose to purchase a sealed vault from their chosen funeral director.

Columbarium Niches:  The state cemetery now has two options for the placement of cremated remains at the cemetery.   Over 1,000 above-ground columbarium niches have been constructed for cremated remains.  The cemetery will also continue to provide in-ground burial of cremated remains.  The choice for the placement of cremated remains either in-ground or above-ground will need to be determined by the next-of-kin. 

What is the Cost? 
Veteran: $0 
Spouse/Eligible Dependent:*
$300 in-ground burial of cremated remains (effective 9/1/03)
$400 above-ground placement of cremated remains in columbarium niche (effective 9/1/03)
$750 casket burial (effective 11/1/03)
$250 casket burial if the veteran was buried in the cemetery prior to November 1, 2003 
*fees for spouse/eligible dependents cannot be prepaid and are subject to change - please contact the cemetery for specific rules and regulations regarding the fee schedule.

Is Pre-Registration Available? 
Yes. This assures your eligibility in advance and eliminates delays in providing military documents to the cemetery.  Sherburne County Veterans Services has pre-registration forms available in our office and can assist you in completing this form.


How are Committal Services Handled?
Currently the cemetery can do four services a day on a first-come first-served basis.

Times: 
          9:30 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
          11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
          12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
          2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

No services are allowed to start after 2:45 p.m., and all interments are made immediately after the committal service.  All committal services at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery are held in the committal service building.  The committal service building does not have formal seating and can accommodate approximately 100 people.  The cemetery can provide a limited number of chairs for individuals who cannot stand during a committal service.  The funeral director should be asked to request chairs, if needed.

Committal services are the only type of service the cemetery can accommodate in the committal service building.  The intended purpose of the committal service building is to provide a safe, comfortable gathering space, away from gravesites, for a brief committal service and military honors if the family has arranged for military honors.  Services such as funeral services or memorial services are not allowed in the committal service building.  The chapel on the ground of Camp Ripley is available for services such as funeral services and memorial services and can be reserved by calling (320) 632-7757.


Are Military Honors Provided? 
No. Honor guard, clergy services and other arrangements are the responsibility of the family or family representative. These arrangements are normally coordinated through your chosen funeral director.


How Do I Contact the Cemetery? 
By mail: 
Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery
15550 Hwy 115
Little Falls, MN 56345
By phone: (320) 616-2527
By fax: (320) 616-2529
By E-mail: dswantek@uslink.net