Memorial Day ceremonies
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June 22, 2025:
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Videos of the 2025 Brainerd Memorial Day ceremonies are available at this Facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/brainerdmemorialday
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May 30, 2025: (l-r) Bill Satre, morning host on KBLB/B93 and KUAL radio stations, then Mark Persons, member of the Brainerd VFW. They talked on the air about Memorial Day ceremonies in Brainerd the week before.
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May 26, 2025, 11 am: The Brainerd Legion and the Brainerd Elks served lunch to veterans and their families at the Legion on Front Street.
May 26, 2025, 10:30 am: A parade on 3rd Avenue NE ended at Evergreen Cemetery. A police car led the parade with the Honor Guard and the Brainerd High School Band. Event programs were handed out by Cub Scouts and Bill Satre was the program Master of Ceremonies. Several hundred people showed up for the main ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery. The schedule is below. Lakeland Public TV was there to do a story, interviewing Brainerd VFW Auxiliary President Cheryl Hull and Senior Vice President Jan Lambert.
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The main speaker was retired U.S. Air Force Major Eusebia Rios will be the main speaker this year. She served 33 years in the U.S. Air Force. Her overseas service included Afghanistan and Iraq. Also known as the "Happy Chappy" she is the Crosby Regional Medical Center Hospice and Hospital Chaplain.
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Lakeland TV news story May 26, 2025.
May 26, 2025, 9:30 am: Memorial Day ceremonies continued at the All-Veterans Memorial where the Brainerd Honor Guard fired and Taps were played by Marty Judd.
All Veterans Memorial video: https://www.facebook.com/brainerdmemorialday/videos/1387377252469851
May 26, 2025, 9 am: Laurel Street over the Mississippi River where a wreath is put in the water in memory of those who died at sea. Bill Satre was the MC and Reverand Doctor Mark Skinner read the prayers. The Brainerd Honor Guard fired a 21-rifle salute to those who died in service to our country.
Bridge ceremony video at: https://www.facebook.com/brainerdmemorialday/videos/1072345804746641
May 26, 2025, 6:30 am: Memorial Day morning. Scout Troop 36 installed 100 casket flags on a fence at Evergreen Cemetery.
May 24, 2025: Cub Scout Pack 36 put flags in at Evergreen Cemetery. Trevor and Allie Bjerketuedt are the pack leaders. Coins were put on military graves in remembrance. Flags are taken down by the scouts after Memorial Day. Thanks.
May 23, 2025: Volunteers picked up flags and other Memorial Day materials from the National Guard Armory. Some flags were placed at Memorial Gardens after pipes were located in the ground by a metal detector. Some went to Evergreen cemetery where Scouts will add more on Saturday morning.
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May 22, 2025: (l-r) Eric Kunstleben and Mark Persons on WJJY Radio the Community Focus program discussing Memorial Day.
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May 22, 2025: (l-r) Mark Persons was interviewed by Brad Mielke on WWWI Radio about Memorial Day ceremonies.
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May 21, 2025: The Memorial Day Committee meets monthly, starting in February to plan the event and then meets again in June for an after-event review.
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This is an all-volunteer community activity. Flowers at the All-Veterans Memorial are planted and tended to by the Captain Robert Orr Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Most people on this committee volunteer to honor those who died in service to our country. Most never served in the military. Jobs include arranging for speakers, getting city permits, coordinating the parade, making the program guides, putting up flags in area cemeteries with scouts, radio interviews and running the sound system.
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The Brainerd Memorial Day Committee is an all-volunteer organization. However, there are expenses for replacing worn flags, equipment storage, printing and permits. Contributions will be gratefully accepted to defray costs for the event which remembers and honors those who died in service to our country. Send contributions to: Brainerd Memorial Day Committee C/O Brainerd VFW, 309 South 6th Street, Brainerd, MN 56401. Attention: Randy Aldous Thank You.
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We pause to give thanks on Memorial Day to the people who fought and died for freedom and our way of life. A hero is someone who has given his or her life for something bigger than himself or herself. Some 1.3 million servicemen and women died fighting for freedom and the American way of life. From the Bible, John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” |
John McCray
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In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918) Canadian Army In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep |
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In Waters by the Deep, a sailor's poem
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