RICHFIELD
COMMUNITY GUIDE | 2024
Remembering and honoring those who served
Long known as Veterans Memorial Park , Richfield ’ s popular recreation destination is the perfect place to remember and honor those who have served their country .
Since 2013 , Richfield ’ s memorial has stood at Veterans Memorial Park , displaying the names of scores of veterans and paying tribute to all past , present and future members of the U . S . Military .
Spearheaded by a nonprofit group that sought to honor the memory of those who served the country in peace or wartime , the memorial gives special honor to one particular veteran , Cpl . Charles “ Chuck ” W . Lindberg . At the center of the memorial stands a bronze statue of Lindberg , a longtime Richfield resident who was the last living flag raiser from the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II .
Cpl . Lindberg , along with four other Marines , raised the first flag on Feb . 23 , 1945 . The other Marines were Lt . Harold Schrier , Platoon Sgt . Ernest Thomas , Sgt . Hank Hansen and Pvt . Louis Charlo .
The Honoring All Veterans Memorial features stone columns surrounding the centerpiece statue in recognition of the six branches of service : Air Force , Army , Coast Guard , Marines , Merchant Marines and Navy . The columns curve toward the American flag to symbolize the determination
of the military ’ s forces to bend through all circumstances but never break .
The memorial is encircled by a series of granite tablets , each engraved with the names of 120 veterans . The memorial ’ s design calls for tablets to be added as requests for engravings are received .
People may submit their name or the name of a veteran of their choice for inclusion on a tablet . The names of all veterans are welcome on the memorial , active or retired , wartime or peacetime , full service or reserves , deceased or living and regardless of residency . The only qualification for an engraving is an honorable discharge .
There is a fee to have a name engraved . Those who have financial difficulty may use the Sponsor-A-Vet Program , which grants up to $ 200 to engrave a veteran ’ s name . Grant requests are considered by the Honoring All Veterans Memorial Board of Directors . Donations are welcome to sponsor a veteran .
Honoring All Veterans Memorial 6529 Portland Ave . www . thehavm . com 612-861-9395
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