I read about a few countries allowing us to go in and search for POW remains.. This is a guy from my home town. WAY COOL!!!
Braham Area Girl Scouts is looking for community support for a flag escort for a local fallen soldier.
Sgt. Ralph Carlson is coming home, 60 years too late. Carlson left his hometown of Braham, Minn., in September 1950 and arrived in Korea three months later. He was a tank driver for the Army's 25th Infantry Division, Carlson was stationed about 10 miles north of Seoul. He was 22 years old. A memorial service for Carlson was held March 13, 1954, at Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church. His family placed a granite headstone at the Rice Lake Cemetery to mark his grave, which has remained empty all these years. Family members got word last month that the military's Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii had identified Carlson's remains using DNA, dental records and bone analysis. The remains will be wrapped in a blanket, placed in a casket with a dress uniform and given a military escort home to Minnesota; a full military burial will be June 25 in Braham. We are looking for volunteers to line County Road 4 from Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church to Rice Lake Cemetery with flags to honor him and his family. Printed from The Pioneer Press Sunday May 29, 2011 written by Mary Divine.
Please dress respectfully and be respectful of the funeral procession. We will provide flags for the flag escort that must be returned to Dawn or Tish following the services. We plan to have community members and various military organizations present. Extra flags are always welcome.
East Central Energy has generously donated to us, during this time, the use of their restrooms and the use of their Operations building located on County Road 4 adjacent to Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church. Isanti County Veterans Services has offered to let us use the flags. It would be a great honor for us to show support for the family and their sacrifices.
This service will take place Saturday June 25, 2011. RAIN or SHINE. We ask that everyone who wishes to participate in the flag escort meet at the ECE operations building on county road 4 at 11 am. As of today County Road 4 will be closed from Highway 65 up to the church. We will then have everyone sign in for a card to be delivered to the family. At about 11:15 we will begin transporting people who are unable to walk down county road 4 to various spots. Our goal is to line both sides of the highway from the church to the cemetery. Lawn chairs are welcome as of this letter the expected length of the services is about 3 hours. If you are a girl scout participating in this service please come with family. We need families support to keep the children safe.
Absolutely no one is to be disrespectful at any time during this event.
Please notify Dawn Fredlund 679-5033 or Tish Carlson 396-3628 if you have any questions or concerns.
