The new Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum officially opened its doors to the public Sep. 12, bringing together military history, artifacts, and the personal stories of Minnesotans who served their country in a 40,000-square-foot museum next to Camp Ripley.
Alpha News sponsored the grand opening, where several generations of veterans gathered to share their own experiences and highlight the actions of fellow service members.
Alpha News is a proud sponsor of the grand opening weekend for the new Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum, a 40,000-square-foot facility located on over 30 acres adjacent to Camp Ripley.
There are events and activities taking place all weekend.
Thank you to all who have… pic.twitter.com/93K4cU1Xgj
— Alpha News (@AlphaNews) September 12, 2026
Among those speaking was Tech Sgt. Don Halverson, a World War II veteran who served with the 34th Infantry Division, also known as the Red Bulls.
Halverson spoke of the extensive combat history of his division during World War II. One of the more devastating stories he recalled centered around Monte Cassino in Italy, where he lost almost all of his men to German forces.
“We were coming up a ravine and going into this castle,” Halverson said. “And in the dark, about daylight before my platoon got there, and the Germans had all the mortars up in the abbey. So they about wiped out my platoon.”
Of the 40 men in his platoon, only five remained after the killed and wounded were accounted for.
Vietnam veteran Jerry Miron also spoke during the opening ceremony.
Drafted as a scout dog handler during the Vietnam War, Miron served with a German Shepherd dog and walked point for infantry units. He said he had heard that the survival rate for scout dog handlers was about 25%.
Miron wants his story to honor and draw attention to the thousands of veterans throughout American military history.
“It’s not about me,” he said. “If you see Jerry Miron, I don’t want you to see Jerry Miron. I want you to see that veteran that’s in Iran, Afghanistan, World War II, Korea. Those are the ones I want you to see, all the other scout dog handlers that were out there.”
The museum includes General John Vessey Memorial Hall, named for Minnesota-born General John Vessey, who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to President Ronald Reagan.
General Paul M. Nakasone, a White Bear Lake native who rose through the ranks of Army intelligence and cyber operations, also spoke at the ceremony about his interactions with Vessey.
As a cadet, he recalled calling Vessey to invite him to a military ball at St. John’s as a guest speaker. At the ball, Vessey spoke with cadets about leadership, partially drawing from his own experience receiving a battlefield commission.
But the grand opening and various spaces available to the public aren’t the only way the museum is preserving and honoring the stories of veterans.
According to a press release from the museum, visitors were invited to attend Civil War Saturday on Sep. 26. Demonstrations and special exhibits exploring Minnesota’s Civil War history were offered to guests.
The event included Civil War artillery and infantry firing demonstrations, as well as drill demonstrations, guided tours of the museum’s Civil War Gallery, a Civil War medical tent, tintype photography, and an exhibit of Civil War infantry arms. Visitors also had the opportunity to take bus tours to the original Fort Ripley site.
“Civil War Saturday is an important part of our museum’s commitment to programming that brings Minnesota’s military history to life,” said Randal Dietrich, executive director of the Minnesota Military & Veterans Museum. “Programs like this give visitors an opportunity to explore Minnesota’s history and better understand the rich contributions Minnesotans have made to our state and nation.”
Rachael Van Rossum
Rachael Van Rossum is a journalist and author who studies political science in the Twin Cities. She previously interned with the Illinois House of Representatives and recently published her debut fantasy novel "The Hellburner of Sovi." Rachael is passionate about telling compelling stories and bringing to life the voices of political figures, athletes, and members of her community through engaging writing. She is the Alpha News journalism fellow for the summer of 2026.