>> CATHY: IN HONOR OF VETERANS DAY, WE HAVE A SPECIAL HIDDEN HISTORY FOR YOU.

ON A WINDY DAY EARLIER THIS YEAR, I LEARNED SOMETHING INTERESTING ABOUT THE ORIGIN STORY OF FORT SNELLING NATIONAL CEMETERY.

TAKE A LOOK.

[GUN FIRING] >> AIM, FIRE!

[GUN SHOTS] [TRUMP PET PLAYING "TAPS"] >> R.AMONG THE SEA OF HEAD STONES, THERE STANDS ONE STONE, ONE GRAVE, ONE VETERAN WHO DIDN'T ALMOST MAKE IT EAR.

>> Cathy: ARMY NURSE TERRY WAS WAS A NURSE.

THE CEMETERY WAS ADDED TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND ERICKSON WAS HONORED AS PARTS OF THE CEREMONY.

>> IN THE WINTER OF 1934, ERICKSON SLIPPED AND FELL ON THE ICE, REQUIRING LONG-TERM CARE.

WHEN ASKED, WHERE WOULD SHE LIKE TO BE BURIED, FORT SNELLING MILITARY CEMETERY, SHE ADAMANTLY RESPONDED.

YET AT THAT TIME, THIS REQUEST WAS IMPOSSIBLE BECAUSE FEDERAL LAW ONLY ALLOWED FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL DIRECTLY ASSIGNED TO THE POST TO BE BURIED THERE.

THIS INCIDENT SPARKED A LARGER DEBATE CONCERNING THE EVER GROWING NUMBER OF VETERANS AND THE NEED FOR FINAL RESTING PLACE HONORING THEIR SERVICE.

>> Cathy: PEOPLE RALLIED BEHIND TERRY ASEAS IDEA TO BUILD A NATIONAL CEMETERY IN MINNESOTA AND FORT SNELLING WAS BORN.

FOLKS WHO SERVED WITH HER CALLED HER OUR LITTLE MINNESOTA NURSE BECAUSE OF THE SMALL FRAME BUT THIS PETITE WOMAN ACHIEVED BIG THINGS.

>> SO YOU SEE, THIS LITTLE NURSE COUPLED WITH HER SERVICE, HER TENACITY AND HER LIFELONG ADVOCACY FOR VETERANS FINALLY FOUND HER FINAL RESTING PLACE AMONG HER BOYS.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, I THOUGHT THAT WAS SUCH AN INTERESTING STORY DURING THE CEREMONY ABOUT TERESA ERICKSON, I HAD NEVER HEARD OF HER BEFORE AND WE'RE COMING CLOSE TO HER GRAVE.

WAS SHE A VETERAN?

>> SHE WAS, SHE WAS ACTUALLY A VETERAN OF NOT JUST ONE WAR BUT THREE, SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, PHILIPPINE-U.S.

WAR, NOW WORLD WAR I COMES ALONG.

THIS SOMETIME, SHE'S DEALING WITH TRAUMATIC INJURIES, SOLDIERS MISSING JAWS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH VELOCITY OF WEAPONS BEING USED.

>> Cathy: I'M SHOCKED THAT A WOMAN LIKE TERESA ERICKSON WOULD BE IN THREE WARS AS A NURSE.

>> THAT WAS SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T SEE VERY MUCH.

THE WOMEN OF THE CIVIL WAR ERICA WERE, YOU KNOW, HAD TO SNEAK IN.

THE WOMEN OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR WERE GRADUALLY ACCEPTED, IN FACT, THAT'S WHY -- THAT'S WHEN THE ARMY NURSE CORPS GETS ESTABLISHED IS IN 1901.

AND THEN BY WORLD WAR I, THEY'RE LITERALLY ASKING WOMEN TO COME AND SERVE.

>> Cathy: NOW, YOU HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT HER AND HER THINKS HISTORY AND LETTERS THAT WERE CENTER TO HER FROM OTHER SOLDIERS.

I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL AND DEAD TO THE WORLD, I HAD MY 21st BIRTHDAY BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AS OLD FELLOWS REALIZE NOW THAT WE OWE A LOT TO THOSE DEVOTED NURSES WHO SERVED AND SUFFERED IN THE ISLANDS AS WE DID.

AND THEY'RE STILL BONDED BECAUSE I THINK IT'S REALLY POIGNANT THAT SHE IS IN THIS SECTION OF A HUGE, BEAUTIFUL CEMETERY AND SHE'S SURROUNDED, IF YOU LOOK, BY OTHER SPANISH-AMERICAN VETERANS, WITH THE SHIELDS ON THEIR GRAVES.

THERE ARE A COUPLE WORLD WAR I VETERANS.

ARE THESE HER GUYS?

>> TERESA DIDN'T WANT ANY FANFARE, SHE DIDN'T WANT TO BE BURIED IN THE DESIGNATED SECTION, SHE WANTED TO BE BURIED AMONGST HER FELLOW SOLDIERS.