More than a decade after his passing, the memory of Lance Cpl. Caleb Erickson continues to be profoundly felt in the Waseca area and among all who knew him, remembered for his tireless work ethic, cheerful attitude and devotion to God and country.
The 10th annual Caleb Erickson Memorial brought hundreds out to the Waseca American Legion for a weekend packed with drinks, food and sharing memories of Marine who, at just 20 years old, paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country on Feb. 28, 2014.
All proceeds for the event to the Caleb Erickson Memorial Fund, which supports a variety of veteran-related charities and causes throughout the area. Saturday’s event drew a particularly large crowd out to the Legion because it was billed as the final memorial event.
While the Caleb Erickson Memorial Ride is expected to continue on an annual basis, last weekend offered a full slate of entertainment and activities over Friday night and Saturday. The decision to have it be the last of its kind was made by Caleb’s mom Karla Scherff.
“It’s a lot of work for four months to do, and we just thought that year 10 was the time to do it,” Scherff said.
Scherff expressed her gratitude to the Legion and all event sponsors for their generous support over the last decade, which has honored Caleb’s memory by raising over $100,000 for charities like the VFW, the Legion, Operation 23 to 0, Soldier 6 and the Magnus Veterans Foundation.
This was the first Erickson Memorial that Caleb’s cousins Cali and MacKenzie Lien were actually able to attend. Cali Lien said she had fond memories of her cousin and his cheerful demeanor, and she wrote a poem to honor his life shortly after he passed.
“It’s weird seeing that picture of him, because he always smiled when we were around him,” Cali said of Caleb’s official military portrait, which featured an uncharacteristically stern look.
After polishing off hundreds of plates of burgers and beans at the legion, bikers made their way to Woodville Cemetery for a particularly emotional ceremony at the grave of Caleb and his father Barry Erickson, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 56.
An emotional Karla Scherff read a poem dedicated to her son, expressing her gratitude to all those who came out to the event, including those who never knew Caleb. She told the gathered crowd that “love is stronger than death, because love never ends.”
Since Caleb’s death, Scherff said that many wonderful people have come into her life who have helped her and Caleb’s sister Rue through a period of intense mourning, above all the Marines who served with Caleb and have steadfastly supported his family ever since his tragic passing.
“I have gained so many sons, and Rue so many brothers,” Scherff told the gathered Marines. “I know that the bond is not the same as it would be with Caleb, but we are blessed to have you in our lives and we love you all.”
Scherff also expressed gratitude for Caleb’s hometown friends who came out to the event, saying that in them she has seen a glimpse of what might have been Caleb’s future. Among them was Terry Huber, a childhood family friend who recalled meeting Caleb in preschool.
“We spent a lot of hours together, Caleb and I, between playing on the farm, chasing down hay bales, playing tag, making sure our mom always brought a special treat because he couldn’t eat the chocolate we had at home,” Huber said.
Like Scherff, Huber expressed gratitude for the support and presence of Caleb’s Marine brothers. He also pondered what Caleb’s future might have held — if he might have returned to Waseca, started a family of his own and grown old with his family and friends.
“On this side of eternal life, we struggle with not having our brother Caleb with us anymore,” Scherff said. “But we must remember on the other side of eternal life we will be with him forever. We love you Caleb, and us brothers can’t wait to meet you on that other side of eternal life, sitting on the couch with a beer in his hand.”
Brenda Ebeling, a Waseca mom whose two sons grew up with Caleb and went on to serve in the Marines, also spoke at the ceremony. Ebeling said that her sons felt a calling to join the military over the wishes of their mother, who feared for their safety.
“I begged and pleaded with them on bended knee (not to go),” Ebeling said. “(My son’s) quote was, ‘mom, I have never grown up in a world without war. I don’t know anything different and my goal in joining the military is that I can protect and serve my family and community.’”
Even though both Caleb and her sons were still little when the attack itself happened, Ebeling said that 9/11 played a profound role in their decisions to join the Marines. Ebeling recounted in vivid, horrifying detail the night her son called her to tell her that Caleb had perished.
“He said, ‘mom, my phone is blowing up, my best friends from home here, my sergeant who enlisted us,’” Ebeling recalled. “I asked ‘what’s going on?’ and he said ‘mom, mom, it’s Caleb, he’s gone.’”
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