Memorial Day weekend events across the Flathead
Several special ceremonies are planned over the Memorial Day weekend across the Flathead Valley. The public is welcome to attend any of the following events honoring all veterans who served and sacrificed their lives for our country.
Columbia Falls American Legion Freedom Post 72 has several activities planned this weekend in honor of all veterans.
On Sunday, May 27, the Post will dedicate a new flagpole on the west side of the Montana Veterans Home Cemetery. Ret. Brig. Gen. James Higgins of Libby, whose grandfather was superintendent of the Veterans Home during World War II, will speak.
On Memorial Day, the Post will meet at 10:30 a.m. at the Super 1 parking lot in Columbia Falls, assembling at the City Welcome Park and doing its Remembrance and Commemorative Walk to the bridge for a wreath-laying ceremony into the Flathead River. All veterans and members of the community are welcome to join.
Following the river ceremony the post will head to the Memorial Wall at Marantette Park at approximately 12:30 to 1 p.m.
United Veterans of the Flathead Valley have several Memorial Day ceremonies planned around the Flathead Valley. The public is encouraged to attend. Here is their schedule:
9:30 a.m. — Bigfork Community Cemetery
10 a.m. — Lone Pine Cemetery, near the Little Brown Church
10:30 a.m. — Glacier Memorial Gardens
11 a.m. — Veterans Memorial, Depot Park, Kalispell
11:45 a.m. — VFW Post 2252 luncheon, Kalispell
12:45 p.m. — Flag ceremony, C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery
1:45 p.m. — Fairview Cemetery
2:30 p.m. — Veterans Memorial, Marantette Park, Columbia Falls 3 p.m. — Woodlawn Cemetery, Columbia Falls
3:30 p.m. — Montana Veterans Home Cemetery, Columbia Falls.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., prior to and after the ceremony at Conrad Cemetery, Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory will be serving complimentary hot dogs, hamburgers and refreshments and handing out patriotic memorabilia. Donations will be accepted for the United Veterans of the Flathead Valley to continue conducting military funeral honors.
Fairview Cemetery’s annual Memorial Day service begins with an honor guard ceremony at 1:45 p.m. The Rev. Kyle Winter will then officiate the ceremony itself at 2 p.m.
The cemetery is located at 1225 Fairview Cemetery Road in Columbia Falls.
Polson’s Memorial Day Parade starts at 10 a.m. The parade will go down Main Street and turn to end at First Citizens Bank. After the parade everyone is encouraged to go straight to the Polson Cemetery for the speakers and a ceremonial placement of a wreath honoring fallen veterans.
Flathead Historical Museum will serve free ice cream at 1 p.m. on Main Street.
Whitefish Legacy Partners and the Kalispell Vet Center are celebrating veterans past and present for Memorial Day with an easy 2- to 3-mile community hike exploring the Whitefish Trail.
The event is free, open to the public, and suitable for all ages and abilities.
Meet at Swift Creek Trailhead at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 28. From Whitefish, take Wisconsin Avenue out of town and continue on East Lakeshore Drive for 8.3 miles.
Call 862-3880 for more details.