Minn. veteran awarded Presidential Citizens Medal

[DeanC]

Minn. veteran awarded Presidential Citizens Medal
August 4, 2010

Washington (AP) — The all-volunteer rifle squad that George J. Weiss Jr. started three decades ago has delivered the final salute at more than 56,400 military burials.

Weiss, a World War II veteran, has made it his mission to provide military honors to deceased veterans at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

President Barack Obama recognized Weiss and 12 other people with the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second highest honor that can be conferred on an American civilian.

Weiss' desire to start the volunteer rifle squad came after a friend died in 1977 and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post couldn't provide the military honors at the burial. He pledged to start a memorial squad after he retired. And when he ended his 30-year career as a utility repairman with Ford Motor Co., Weiss formed a memorial squad of six people. Today, it's comprised of 130 men.

"We don't know 99 percent of the people we're burying - they're strangers," Weiss said. "But still, we've all been in the military, and we try to take care of each other."

[Erik_Pakieser]

Made my day. Thanks for posting this!