88th Annual Memorial Day 11 Services
Monday, May 25, 2015
Sponsored by United Veteran’s Council of Missoula and Ravalli Counties
QUESTIONS: CALL 406-251-5116 OR bluemountain@montana.com.
10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Caras Park Memorial Day Service
Wreath toss into Clark Fork River by Missoula City Fire Department Rescue Boat Crew. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Rund as wreath presenter. Honor and color guards. 21-gun salute.
(9:45 a.m. lineup for honor and color guards at fish statue. Service starts at 10 a.m. at overlook.)
11 to 11:30 a.m.
Missoula County Courthouse Ceremony
Keynote Speaker U.S. Army National Guard Capt. Aaron Flint, Wreath placements at WWI monument. 21-gun salute.
(10:45 a.m. – Honor and Color Guards line up at WWI Doughboy Statue with service at 11 a.m. at Courthouse steps facing Broadway Street.)
12 Noon (approximate time)
Fort Missoula Military Cemetery
Honor and Color guards. Wreath placements at base of Ole Beck Monument. 21-gun salute.
12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Western Montana State Veteran’s Cemetery
Dedicated to five local World War II Veterans and ALL World War II veterans that have died. Keynote Speakers U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joseph Yakawich, Retired. Triple flyover by St. Patrick Hospital’s MedStar helicopter. 21-gun salute and formal dedication of Avenue of Flags.
(12:15 p.m. – Lineup of honor and color guards at sidewalk behind chairs. Service starts at 12:30 p.m.)
1:15 to 2 p.m. (approximate time)
Sunset Memorial – lunch and break
Honor and color guards. Wreath placement. New flag dedication at flag pole. 21-gun salute.
(Lunch and rest. Service when units finish lunch.)
2:15 to 3 p.m. (approximate time)
Missoula City Cemetery – veteran memorial
St. Mary’s Annex Cemetery – statue
St. Mary’s Cemetery – veteran memorial
Honor and color guards. Wreath placements at veteran monuments. Single gun volley at each service.
3:15 to 4 p.m.
Rose Memorial Garden Park – TWO SERVICES
Vietnam Veteran Keynote Speaker Wey Symmes. Honor and color guards, 18 wreath placements on park monuments.
Line up at Korean Memorial at 3 p.m. with slow walk to Vietnam Memorial at 3 to 3:40 p.m. – first service.
Walk to all memorials in park, starting at Vietnam Memorial at 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. – second service.
5 to 5:30 p.m.
University of Montana Iraq-Afghanistan “Fallen Soldier Memorial”
Honor and color guards. Placement of flowers and wreaths at base of monument. 21-gun salute.
All services organized and hosted by United Veterans Council of Missoula and Ravalli Counties.
Bus for honor and color guards provided by Beach Transportation.
Bagpiper John Haffey of Celtic Dragon Pipe Band.
Ceremony chaplain U.S. Army Sgt. Samuel Redfern.
Music by Elliott Oppenheim and his Trillium Brass Trio of the Missoula and Bitterroot Valleys.
Baskets of red, white and blue flowers provided by Benson’s Farm – planted at Vietnam Memorial after services.
Wreaths provided for all ceremonies by United Veterans Council of Missoula and Ravalli Counties.
Wreaths created by members of Grizzly Peak, DAR and posts and auxiliaries of VFW and American Legion.
Three volleys (known as 21-gun salutes) by VFW Post 209.
Color guards of American Legion Post 27, Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Patriotic Order, Missoula Civil Air Patrol, Missoula City Police Department, Boy Scouts of America, Missoula City Fire Department Jet Ski Rescue Squad.