Memorial Day ceremony remembers sacrifices of service members, families

Eden Prairie commemorated Memorial Day this week with a ceremony at Purgatory Creek Park, near the city’s Veterans Memorial. Keynote speaker Mary Johnson spoke of her two sons’ military service and the death of her son Tom.

Two living Eden Prairie veterans, Thomas Johnson (no relation to Mary) and Tim Beutell, were also honored at the ceremony.

Mary Johnson joined Blue Star Mothers of America, an organization for mothers who have children currently serving or who have previously served in the military, when her sons enlisted in the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy in 2006. She joined American Gold Star Mothers Inc., an organization for mothers who have lost a son or daughter due to military service, in 2024.

Her son Tom had died in 2013 due to military service-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Gold Star Mothers, Johnson said, quoting a friend named LaDonna, is “the best family you never want to be a member of.”

Tom – Army Spc. Thomas K. Johnson – was in the process of receiving a PTSD-related medical discharge at the time of his death. He had previously served tours of duty in Iraq and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

After his death, Mary Johnson said, she found in his belongings notes related to an Army Commendation Medal for his service during a 15-month deployment in Iraq. The notes stated that Tom had participated in eight named missions, was in 300 combat patrols, and safely drove a Humvee or an MRAP (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicle over 3,000 miles. His unit lost several members during this deployment.

Calls for support for veterans of all ages

His last duty station was Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire. “I was so happy to have him stateside and safe,” Johnson said. The civilian base, however, isolated Tom from his Army support network. 

“I want to say, each Gold Star family has a unique story, and I think they all need to be told. We can’t forget those we have lost,” Johnson said in her speech. 

She also called for the audience to support veterans of all ages. “Growing up, what I thought of as a veteran was my 80-year-old uncle, Kenny, a World War II veteran,” Johnson said. “We today really need to not think of veterans as just the little old men at the Legion and the VFW, but there are young people.” 

She challenged those in attendance to find a way to support veterans, listing Tee It Up for the Troops golf tournaments, American Legion Riders and Patriot Guard motorcycle clubs, the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans, Fisher House Foundation, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minnesota Veterans Homes, Minnesota Military Family Foundation, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Wreaths Across America. 

Eden Prairie veterans Thomas Johnson, Tim Beutell honored

Following Mary Johnson’s speech, state Sen Steve Cwodzinski (DFL-49, Eden Prairie), who previously served on the Minnesota Legislature’s Veterans Committee, honored Eden Prairie resident Thomas Johnson for his service to veterans. 

Johnson identified himself as a 1976 graduate of Eden Prairie High School and echoed Mary Johnson’s words on the importance of supporting Blue Star and Gold Star families. He referenced the 2025 session of the Minnesota Legislature’s passage of a bill (SF 1959, Section 14) calling for the placement of a plaque honoring Gold Star and Blue Star families on the state Capitol grounds. 

Johnson noted that his wife, Judy, is the daughter and spouse of veterans and the mother of an active-duty military member. He cited Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman’s “War is hell” quote and added, “Ladies and gentlemen, please never forget, war is hell on the homefront, too. Let’s do what we can to make it easier for those that served and their families.” 

Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case then recognized resident Tim Beutell, a U.S. Naval Academy and Vietnam-era naval aviator who flew in the squadron with John McCain following McCain’s five years as a prisoner of war. Beutell compared some of his missions to the quick formations as seen in the film “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Again echoing Mary Johnson’s speech, Beutell commented that he did not realize until years later “what the impact on my mother had to have been.” 

“Why I’m here, and why we’re here, it is not to glorify war, but to honor the memories and the people that fought the wars, what they did, and the veterans who could have been at war,” Beutell said. 

Pastor Ryan Tarman of Eden Prairie’s Wooddale Church gave a benediction to the ceremony with the following words: 

“Today, we’ve heard stories of those who have served, those who have lost loved ones. May this not just be an hour of our day that we pay tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, but may we leave here today remembering those who gave that ultimate sacrifice – but not just the veterans that gave that sacrifice, the families who also gave the sacrifice of losing a loved one, and may we also leave here thankful for those willing to serve, knowing that the ultimate sacrifice is possible.”

Other portions of the ceremony included music by the Eden Prairie Community Band, high school senior Jude Kambal of the Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission reading remarks prepared by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a flag raising by the Eden Prairie Police Reserve Honor Guard, and remarks by Mayor Case and Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation Director Amy Markle. Eden Prairie Scouts BSA Troop 695 also assisted.