Memorial Day celebrations are going to look different in Missoula and Ravalli counties.
The Annual sunrise service normally is at Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery but this year due to the shutdown will be at Crosspoint Church, 7500 Mullan Road, Missoula, across from Sunset Memorial Cemetery.
VFW Post 209 Honor Guard will do 3-volley firing. Playing of Taps. Prayer and honor to veterans that gave their lives for their country. All veterans and their families plus veteran supporters welcome, this will begin from 6 a.m. until 7 a.m.
At 7:15 a.m. the presentation of two red, white and blue wreaths at Veteran Memorial and Flagpole at Sunset Memorial Cemetery.
9 a.m. begins the line up of all veterans in Missoula and Ravalli Counties and around Western Montana at Corvallis High School parking lot for start of 100th Memorial Day Parade. Able-bodied vets will march. Other vets will ride in historical Jeeps and other vehicles. Family and friends can watch and cheer with American flags along Corvallis main street.
At 10 a.m. is the start of Corvallis’ 100th Memorial Day Parade, led by marching veterans.
From 11:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. veterans and families will present red, white and blue wreaths at veteran monuments around Missoula and Ravalli Counties until end of day.
In Missoula, 40 wreaths will be distributed at no set schedule on May 25th to Rose Memorial Garden Park for 20 monuments, Caras Park, St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, St. Mary’s Annex Catholic Cemetery, Missoula City Cemetery, Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Missoula Military Post Cemetery, Missoula County Courthouse Doughboy Statue for World War I, and Iraq-Afghanistan Monument at University of Montana campus in Missoula.
To meet up with wreath presentations or if you have questions about the sunrise service in Missoula, please call or text 719-661-4037.
Baskets of red, white and blue flowers were given to the veterans by Benson’s Farms and red, white and blue wreaths were created by life members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion Auxiliaries in Western Montana.
