2022 FM Memorial Day Activities
Jason Hicks
Monday is Memorial Day; some consider it the unofficial beginning of summer. But the reason is far from that.
After the Civil War towns across the country held prayer services for the thousands of soldiers our country lost on both sides. The holiday had been known as Decoration Day and only honored soldiers who died during the civil war.
On May 30, 1868, the first official National Decoration Day ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery, where the Grand Army of the Republic placed flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. General Ulysses S. Grant presided over the ceremony.
The tradition of Decoration Day soon evolved from remembering just the fallen of the Civil War to remembering all soldiers who died during the country’s wars at home and abroad, according to History.com.
Memorial Day did not become an official holiday until 1968 (the height of the Vietnam War) Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. The same law also declared Memorial Day a federal holiday.
This holiday is unique in the fact that flags are flown at half-staff until noon, and then raised to full staff for the rest of the day.
There are many ceremonies throughout the Fargo-Moorhead Community starting early in the morning until late in the day. I encourage all to try to attend a service. If not able to please take a few moments to remember exactly why you are enjoying a three day weekend, it’s more than the unofficial start of summer.
Here is a list of ceremonies throughout our area.
2022 FM Memorial Day Activities
7:00am – Ceremony on Veterans Memorial Bridge
7:30am – Jewish Cemetery near Holy Cross North, Fargo
8:30am – Holy Cross North Cemetery, Fargo
8:45am Moorhead Memorial gardens
9:15am Sabin (Elmwood cemetery)
9:30am Sabin (Trinity cemetery)
10:00am Evergreens South Moorhead
10:00am – Oakwood Cemetery, Harwood
10:15am Prairie Home cemetery (Moorhead)
10:30am St. Josephs cemetery (Moorhead)
10:40am Riverside (North Moorhead cemetery)
10:45am – West Fargo VFW Flag Raising, Program at 11:00am
11:00am – Riverside Cemetery Program, Fargo
11:00am – Moorhead American Legion Program
12:00 noon – Sunset Memorial gardens Cemetery Program, Fargo
1:00pm – Moorhead Legion Post 21 Memorial Flag Raising
1:00pm – Lindenwood Park Army (164th INF) and Navy (Submariners)Memorials, Fargo
*These times are approximate so it is recommended that you should be there 10-15 minutes early
*Cemetery ceremonies will include: Prayer, Rifle Salute, and Taps
People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf (George Orwell)