MPR’s Kristi Marohn reports on private funeral service held for Kort Plantenberg, one of the three Minnesota National Guard members killed when their helicopter crashed in rural Stearns County.
Awarded:
2019 MBJA Eric Sevareid Award, award of merit in Audio - Large Market Radio category
SPEAKER: Two more Minnesota National Guard soldiers killed in a recent helicopter crash will be laid to rest next week. A funeral mass was held in Collegeville yesterday for warrant officer candidate Kort Plantenberg, one of the three guard soldiers who died when their helicopter crashed in rural Stearns County. Kirsti Marohn reports.
KIRSTI MAROHN: Bitter cold and snow didn't deter hundreds of mourners from filing into Saint John's Abbey Church. They came to pay respects to Kort Miller Plantenberg, a St. Cloud native who was pursuing his dream of flying helicopters. The 28-year-old Plantenberg had recently returned from a nine-month deployment in Kuwait. He was preparing to start the state warrant officer program in March and hoped to attend flight school.
After the funeral, service members in military dress uniforms stood silently outside as pallbearers carried the flag-draped casket down the sweeping front steps of the Abbey Church. An honor guard fired three-rifle volleys and a bugler played "Taps."
[GUNSHOTS]
["TAPS" PLAYING]
The flag was folded and presented to Plantenberg's family. Then the haunting sound of two Black Hawk helicopters from a sister battalion in Iowa flying overhead.
[HELICOPTER WHIRRING]
Platenberg's family requested that no media attend the funeral, but issued a statement last week saying they take comfort in knowing that he died doing what he loved best-- serving his country and pursuing his lifelong dream to be a Black Hawk pilot.
Funerals for the other two guardsmen killed in the crash, Chief Warrant Officers Charles Nord and James Rogers, Jr., are scheduled for Sunday and Monday. Kirsti Marohn, MPR News, Collegeville.
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