Many Memorial Day Weekend Events to Honor Loved Ones in Missoula

Missoula is blessed to have so many brief ceremonies scheduled, and in such a way that folks can attend one or many.

Memorial Day wreath ceremonies are scheduled at 12 different locations throughout the day, Monday, May 26. A number of them feature full military honors, and one of the locations will even treat you to lunch.

ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY

Sunset Memorial Cemetery and Funeral Home will be hosting their annual open house from 11:00am - 2:00pm, Saturday, Sunday and Memorial Day Monday. Enjoy free refreshments, a barbecue and tours all three days. There will be an Honor Guard ceremony beginning at approximately 1:00pm Monday, and staff will be there all three days to answer any questions you might have. Sunset is located at 7405 Mullan Road in Missoula.

FULL CEREMONY SCHEDULE

7 a.m. - Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Military flag poles. Sunrise Service. One wreath presented at base of flag display with potted plant.

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.

10:30 a.m. – Missoula County Courthouse on front lawn beside World War I Doughboy Statue. Retirement of American flag. Short procession and wreath presentation. Full military honors. 

11:15 a.m. – Fort Missoula Old Post Military Cemetery, Ole Beck Grave, World War I. Presentation of wreath. Full military honors.

11:30 a.m. 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.

Our special thanks to ceremony organizer Susan Campbell Reneau and to American Legion Post 27 Color Guard, VFW Post 209 Honor Guard, Missoula Civil Air Patrol and American Legion Post 68 Auxiliary.