A volunteer rifle squad and color guard from Minnesota's Fort Snelling hasn't missed a funeral in 40 years — and that included one this week with a negative 36-degree wind chill.
"No matter what the conditions are, rain, snow, sleet, this 25-below weather, we'll be out here," veteran Mike Hanzal told CBS.
Schools were closed, no mail was delivered, outdoor exposure was discouraged, but the funeral of an unaccompanied veteran was still on — so the firing squad was as well.
“We are helping them transition into another world,” said veteran Bob Nelson.
Aside from the rifle squad, roughly 90 percent of the cemetery staff are veterans as well — none of them missed ceremonies this week despite the winter vortex.
"It's important to understand that veterans, when they served their country, didn't have a choice of the weather or location," said John Knapp, deputy director at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. “Despite the extreme cold and cancellations in the state of Minnesota, our staff is 100-percent dedicated to make sure we do our mission.”
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