Cliff Buchan
News Editor

Military funerals are nothing new for Neil Mattson. As a funeral director in Forest Lake for more than 40 years, the namesake for Mattson Funeral Home has handled his share of funeral arrangements for military personnel lost at time of war.

Mattson sat quietly in the foyer at Maranatha Assembly of God Church Friday as last respects were paid to Pvt. 1st Class Elden D. Arcand. On Aug. 21 he became the first Forest Lake man to die in the war in Iraq. Arcand, who had been in the Army for just under one year, was killed in a fuel tanker truck rollover.

There were occasional flashbacks for Mattson as he compared Iraq to Vietnam.

The war in Southeast Asia was not kind to Forest Lake and this area of east central Minnesota. For Mattson, it meant nine funerals over the years war was waged in Vietnam. Young men like Barton Johnson of Scandia and Gary Kunshier of Wyoming were among those from the area who died in Vietnam.

Eight funerals were for military personnel and one was for a civilian government worker who was killed in an attack.

ìThey were tough, but they are all tough,î Mattson said of the funerals from the late 1960s and early 1970s. It was a difficult time for Americans, he said, as many protested the unpopular war.

Mattson said the military show of support last Friday was heart-warming.

ìThe number of military people who came here today is just remarkable,î Mattson sad. ìThat really impressed me. There were some people who put themselves out to be here today.î

As the funeral closed, Mattson said he was relieved for the family that no protest surfaced as has happened at other funerals for those killed in Iraq.

Funeral details

Mattson was one of a half dozen Mattson Funeral Home staff to work the Arcand funeral. Four licensed funeral directors were involved.

Susan Hutchison directed arrangements at the funeral home and led the family delegation to the Wyoming church Friday morning.

Her husband and business partner Paul Hutchison, directed operation at the church, including organizational details for the 50 National Guard and Army Reserve troops on hand and the veterans from Legion and VFW posts in Forest Lake, Hugo and White Bear Lake. The military personnel formed the honor guard for the service.

Special assistance also came from police in the area.

Forest Lake Police Department officers, including Chief Clark Quiring, worked traffic detail in Forest Lake and led the family processional to the church

Chisago County Sheriff Todd Rivard, Wyoming Police Department officers and deputies from the Anoka and Chisago county sheriffís offices were also on hand to provide security and traffic control.

A Minnesota State Patrol car provided an escort for the funeral procession that traveled through Forest Lake and on to Fort Snelling National Cemetery for burial.

Forest Lake police also provided traffic control for the funeral procession that was met by many flag-waving area residents who lined Lake Street and W. Broadway Ave. to pay their final respects to the fallen soldier. Forest Lake police said more than 200 people lined the streets to honor the fallen soldier.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605