News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Tuesday December 16th 2025
The 144th Memorial Day of Veterans at Pioneers and Soldier”'s Cemetery
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- The Fallen Soldier Battle Cross assembled here on Memorial Day at Pioneer and Soldiers Cemetery is a symbolic placing of a cross on the battlefield or at the base camp for a soldier who has been killed. Made up of the soldier’s rifle with bayonet attached stuck into the ground, helmet on top, dog tags sometimes hanging from the rifle and the boots of the fallen soldier next to it. Its purpose is to show honor and respect for the fallen at the battle site. The practice started during the American Civil War or maybe earlier as a means of identifying the bodies on the battleground before they were removed. Today, it is an immediate means of showing respect for the fallen among the still living members of the troop.
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- Descendants of Walter and John Carpenter gathered at the grave site of Walter Carpenter (John Carpenter”'s grave is nearby) as they reminisced and expressed appreciation for the honoring of their elders.
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- The Daughters of the War of 1812 Honor the War”'s Veterans on the 200th Anniversary and dedicate a new grave marker they have provided for the Walter Carpenter “framed” here and flanked on Memorial Day by Minnesota Transitions School JROTC Cadets Calvin Fackler, Steve Storm, Giovanni Williams, Christopher Pospisil, and Taylor Howery.
Memorial Day Photos by Tim McCall
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- 1st Sergeant Steven Chapman addressing the Memorial Day assembly is flanked by Veteran Emcee Gary Martin.
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- MTS JROTC Cadets prepare to present “Colors”.
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- You are invited to create your own caption invoked by this photo that “tells a tale of a 1,000 words”.
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- Taps played evoke “attention” stature and “salute” signaling honor and memory at Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery which proudly “tilts” many tombstones showing its age.
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- A U.S. Marine Veteran of the Vietnam War greets MTS JROTC Cadets on Memorial Day 2012 at Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery
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- 1st Sergeant Steven Chapman oversees coalescing preparation of the Flag by MTS JROTC Cadets.
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- “Old Glory” is in the foreground of Seward Concert Band at Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery Memorial Day 2012.
Related Images:
Friends of the Cemetery 2011 Cemetery Concert Awarded by Mpls. Heritage Preservation Commission
The Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Awards ”” a joint project between Preserve Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission, and the Minneapolis Chapter of the American Institute of Architects made seven awards for 2011 recently.
Friends of the Cemetery was honored for their innovative advocacy efforts, in particular their first-ever benefit concert at Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery, which drew and educated a diverse audience of city residents.
Category:Â Community Education and Advocacy.
Project team: Friends of the Cemetery, Sue Hunter Weir, and Aaron Hanauer, and Colleen Ayers, Nancy Benson and Jack Ferman. (Participating musicians were Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles, and Jeremy Messersmith.)
Related Images:
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