An Emmons native who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country over 75 years ago is finally coming home, and the public is invited to pay their respects as he makes his way back.

Glaydon Iverson — a 24-year-old sailor with the United States Navy at the time — was killed aboard the USS Oklahoma in the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II. Over 2,000 American soldiers and sailors died in the attack, and 1,000 were left wounded. Many of the soldiers and sailors who lost their lives remained unidentified, Iverson among them.

In March of this year, Iverson’s remaining family members were notified that his remains had been identified, which started the process of bringing him home to his final resting place.

A funeral plot has been saved all this time next to Iverson’s parents Edwin and Anna (Trytten) Iverson in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Emmons, according to his nephew, Gary Iverson.

Multiple veterans and law enforcement agencies will come together to pay their respects and help bring Glaydon Iverson to his home and final resting place Memorial Day weekend.

Iverson’s remains will arrive from Hawaii midday Thursday at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with a U.S. Navy escort. Upon arrival Iverson will receive planeside military honors with his family present. From there he will be escorted by the Minnesota State Patrol — as well as American Legion Riders, Patriot Riders and Patriot Guard members — to the Freeborn County line, where the escort will be joined by members of the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office as well as other local law enforcement. Iverson’s procession will be led down Bridge Avenue, around Fountain Lake and up Broadway Avenue to in front of the Albert Lea American Legion at 142 N. Broadway Ave. According to Freeborn County Veterans Service Officer Ron Reule, the procession will stop in front of the Legion so that Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars color guards and honor guards can pay their respects to Iverson. Members of Women Veterans of Freeborn County and Disabled American Veterans will also be in attendance. 

From the Legion the procession will head up Main Street to U.S. Highway 69, on its way to Mittlestadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills. The Minnesota State Patrol — granted by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton — will stay with Iverson until the state line, at which point the procession will be joined by the Iowa State Patrol, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Mills Police Department. The procession is expected to slow down going through Emmons so that the community also has a chance to pay its respects.

Reule said live updates on Iverson’s escort home should be played on local radio stations Power 96 and KATE Radio, and will provide those looking to pay their respects during Thursday’s procession with more exact times on where and when the procession will be at different points in the afternoon.

Iverson’s visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Mittlestadt Funeral Home, 902 E. Main St. in Lake Mills. Iverson will be escorted from the funeral home to his funeral service the following day by local law enforcement and Legion Riders.

His funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. May 27 at Emmons Lutheran Church, 490 Pearl St. in Emmons, with Emmons American Legion members acting as pallbearers. A burial with military honors will follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery, with the U.S. Navy providing a detail for the cemetery escort, presenting a flag to Iverson’s family and the playing of taps. The National Guard will provide Iverson’s 21-gun salute. A luncheon will follow at the Emmons American Legion, 121 Main St. in Emmons.

State and national elected officials have been invited to Iverson’s funeral, Reule said, as well as local city and county officials. Reule added that Dayton has decided to declare May 27 as Glaydon I.C. Iverson Day, after a request from Veterans Services.

Both Gary Iverson and Reule said community members wishing to pay their respects are welcome to attend any and all of the events surrounding Glaydon Iverson’s journey home.