For many, Memorial Day Weekend is an excuse to load up the car, fire up the barbeque and enjoy the first warm, long weekend of the year. But the federal holiday has a deeper meaning, one the United Veterans of Flathead Valley are working to ensure is not overlooked on May 29.
Memorial Day is a day set aside to honor the men and woman who died while serving in the U.S. military. The holiday was informally established in 1868, three years after the Civil War, to honor those who lost their lives during that conflict. It was originally called Decoration Day and was an opportunity to decorate the graves of military veterans with flowers. According to legend, May was picked because flowers are in bloom all over the country. The holiday was later dubbed Memorial Day and it became an official holiday in 1971.
Here’s a rundown of what the United Veterans of Flathead Valley have planned for Memorial Day.
10:30 a.m. Ceremony at Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery at 2659 U.S. Highway 93 North, Kalispell
11 a.m. Ceremony at Veterans Memorial, Depot Park, Downtown Kalispell
11:45 a.m. Luncheon at VFW Post 2252, 330 First Avenue West, Kalispell
12:45 p.m. Flag Ceremony and Ceremony at Conrad Cemetery, Conrad Drive, Kalispell
1:45 p.m. Ceremony at Fairview Cemetery, 1225 Fairview Cemetery Road, Columbia Falls
2:30 p.m. Ceremony at Veterans Memorial, Marantette Park, 133 13th Street, Columbia Falls
3 p.m. Ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery, Meadow Lake Boulevard, Columbia Falls
3:30 p.m. Ceremony at Montana Veterans Home Cemetery, 400 Veteran Drive, Columbia Falls.