More information:

https://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/65/v65i08p302-313.pdf

Theresa Ericksen was born into a US military family in Oslo Norway on June 13, 1867.  She became an orphan at age six and ended up in Minnesota with her aunt and uncle in 1880.

She served as an Army nurse at Sternberg Army Hospital in Chickamauga, Georgia during the Spanish-American War in 1898; in Manila during U.S-Philippine War in 1899; and in France during WWI.

After a lifetime of service to, and advocate, for our Veterans, Ericksen retired in 1933 after suffering an injury that required long-term rehabilitation.   She expressed her desire to be buried at Fort Snelling Post Cemetery, but the cemetery was reserved for active service members serving at the Army Post.  The Post commandant took the issue to state representatives and together, they successfully created the state's first national cemetery.  Theresa Ericksen, along with Disabled American Veterans, Jewish war Veterans, and the American Legion, were instrumental in the establishment of a national military cemetery at Fort Snelling. In 1937, Congress approved the project and passed laws that allowed development at the Fort Snelling military reservation for the cemetery.   The US Army dedicated the cemetery on July 14, 1939, marking the first time a grassroots movement resulted in the founding of a national cemetery.

Ericksen died on August 31, 1943 and was laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in section A, block 11, grave 1884.

Source: https://www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling/learn/military-history/national-cemetery

Army Nurse Theresa Ericksen.   Photo courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society

This is a photo of Army Veteran Theresa Ericksen

THERESA ERICKSEN

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