99th annual Memorial Day wreath ceremonies listed
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News from Susan Campbell Reneau, Memorial Day Ceremony Organizer
MONTANA - Listed is the complete list of 12 wreath ceremonies that take place every Memorial Day, starting at 7 a.m. and ending at 5 p.m. The ceremonies are free and open to the public. The historic World War II airplane, Miss Montana, will do a triple flyover at the noon wreath ceremony at Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery. Memorial Day honors the men and women in uniform that died for our freedom and safety.
7 a.m. – Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Military flag poles. Sunrise Service. One wreath presented at base of flag display with potted plant. Playing of Taps. No shooting. Just flags and honor and color guard standing at attention, if available. Playing of Taps at the end of service.
9:30 a.m. – VFW Post 209 Headquarters, 245 W. Main Street, Missoula. Opening prayer and send-off to American Legion Post 27 Color Guard and VFW Post 209 Honor Guard as they begin the day of wreath presentations around Missoula.
10 a.m. – Van Buren Street Bridge between Eastgate Shopping Center and Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce building. Tossing of patriotic wreath into Clark Fork River by Navy representative. Full military honors. Playing of Taps.
10:30 a.m. – Missoula County Courthouse on front lawn beside World War I Doughboy Statue (3). Retirement of American flag. Short procession and wreath presentation at Doughboy Statue. Full military honors. Playing of Taps.
11:15 a.m. – Fort Missoula Old Post Military Cemetery, Ole Beck Grave, World War I. Presentation of wreath. Full military honors. Playing of Taps.
11:30 to 12:30 p.m. – Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Wreath presentations at each military flag and American Legion rock. Full military honors. Playing of Taps. Service starts at Noon. A triple flyover of Miss Montana starts at noon.
1 p.m. – Sunset Memorial Gardens, Veteran’s Monument. Flag dedication and wreath ceremony about 1:45 p.m.. Full military honors. Playing of Taps. Lunch will be served here.
2:15 p.m. - Missoula City Cemetery, Veteran’s Monument. Wreath presentation. Full military honors. Playing of Taps.
2:30 p.m. - St. Mary’s Annex Cemetery, Jesus Statue. Presentation of wreaths. Full military honors. Playing of Taps.
3 p.m. - St. Mary’s Cemetery, Veteran’s Monument. Wreath presentation. Full military honors. Playing of Taps.
3:15 p.m. – Rose Memorial Garden Park, Full military honors and playing of TAPS at start of wreath presentations. Audience with leader goes to EVERY monument (18) in park. Takes about 15 minutes. Start at Vietnam Memorial and end at Vietnam Memorial.
4 p.m. – Iraq-Afghanistan War Memorial, University of Montana. Wreath presentations. Full military honors. Playing of Taps.
Special thanks to American Legion Post 27 Color Guard, VFW Post 209 Honor Guard, Missoula Civil Air Patrol. Wreaths made by the American Legion Post 68 Auxiliary. Beach Transportation provides a charter bus, driver, and fuel to take the honor and color guards to cemeteries and parks. Benson’s Farm provides baskets of red, white. and blue flowers. Staples for the patriotic flyer paper. To receive this schedule, email us at: bluemountain@montana.com.
