RICHFIELD
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2025
A place for remembrance
Among the outdoor amenities and ice rink at Veterans Memorial Park is Richfield’ s dedicated space for remembering and honoring 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 allows 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, 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
Community Guide 2025 | RICHFIELD | 15