[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8757]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE FORT SNELLING MEMORIAL RIFLE SQUAD ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 
                            35TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN KLINE

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 2014

  Mr. KLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 35th 
Anniversary of Minnesota's own Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad.
  Thirty-five years ago this June, six Minnesota veterans volunteered 
to provide the Memorial Rifle Squad's inaugural burial honors for a 
fellow Minnesotan at Fort Snelling Memorial Cemetery. Inspired by these 
six men, 20 more veterans answered the call to duty in 1979 and became 
the Rifle Squads' charter members.
  Over the last 35 years, the Memorial Rifle Squad has seen its ranks 
swell to a roster of 123 active members, 114 retired members, and 156 
eternal members. Among its active members are veterans of World War II, 
the Korean war, Vietnam war, Gulf war, and Peacetime Veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, volunteer members of the Memorial Rifle Squad selflessly 
brave Minnesota's frigid winter blasts and scorching summer heat to 
provide burial honors for as many as sixteen veterans a day. Since its 
inception, members of the Memorial Rifle Squad have provided burial 
honors for more than 64,000 deceased veterans without missing a single 
scheduled funeral for 34 years.
  As a former Marine Colonel, and fellow veteran, I have been proud to 
support the efforts of the Memorial Rifle Squad. In 2012, the 
Department of the Army announced it would reduce the availability of 
ceremonial rifles to Memorial Rifle Squads. This action would have 
greatly reduced the ability of Memorial Rifle Squads to honor our 
veterans being laid to rest. I was proud to introduce bipartisan 
legislation--now law--that stopped the Army from moving forward with 
this misguided policy and allowed ceremonial units in Minnesota and 
across the country to continue to perform burial honors.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I want to 
recognize the dedicated service of all those who have served and 
continue to serve on the Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad. I 
congratulate them on 35 years of selfless dedication to their fellow 
veterans.

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