Minnesota Rifle Squad Members to be Obama’s Guests

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Members of Memorial Rifle Squad at Fort Snelling National Cemetery are planning to attend Memorial Day ceremonies in Virginia as President Barack Obama's guests.

Reports say that 11 of the group's 127 active members will be at Arlington National Cemetery for the ceremonies.

Allan Johnson is a squad member who is making the trip. Johnson is a Navy veteran who fought in Vietnam. He first saw the rifle squad when his brother was buried at Fort Snelling, and felt he had to join the group when he retired.

He calls it an honor and privilege.

The squad was the nation's first to be made up solely of volunteers. It has honored more than 65,000 soldiers in its 35 years.