Memorial Day 2018: Events Across The Twin Cities

MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL METRO — Memorial Day is Monday, May 28. If you are looking for ways to show your gratitude to the women and men who lost their lives while defending our country, you will have plenty of opportunities in the Twin Cities.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and originated in the years following the Civil War. It became an official federal holiday in 1971, and many Americans observe it by visiting cemeteries or memorials, at family gatherings and by participating in parades.

It also marks the unofficial beginning of summer.

Here is a list of Memorial Day events in the Twin Cities:

Apple Valley: Memorial Day Ceremonies at Apple Valley American Legion Post 1776 start at 11 a.m. Monday.

Fort Snelling: Over Memorial Day Weekend, visitors can explore the grounds and learn about the historic fort's history.

Fort Snelling National Cemetery: Ceremony: May 28 at 10:00 a.m.

Lakewood Cemetery: On Monday, May 28, the historic Minneapolis cemetery will host a ceremony to honor veterans starting at 10:30 a.m. and continue in the afternoon with free history tours, exhibits and music.

Mall of America

• Fallen Soldier Table (Rotunda)
• Remembering The Minnesota Fallen Wall (Rotunda)
• Spirit of America's Story Wall (Atrium)

Flags for Fort Snelling

On Saturday, May 26, from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. volunteers for Flags for Fort Snelling will meet at Mall of America in the North Atrium. They will be bused to Fort Snelling National Cemetery, where they'll place one flag on each tombstone.

Woodbury City Hall Campus: Woodbury VFW Post 9024 and the Woodbury American Legion Post 501 are hosting a Memorial Day Ceremony Monday, May 28. The special service, held annually to honor service men and women, will begin at 11 a.m. at the Woodbury Veteran Memorial on the City Hall Campus.

Stillwater Veterans Memorial: The Memorial Day salutation will be held at the Stillwater Veterans Memorial located at the Upper Riverview Parking Lot on Pine Street across from the Historic Washington County Courthouse.

The event will start at 11:30 am and honor the St. Croix Valley area casualties of war with a wreath laying ceremony recognizing the fallen from each of the branches of the armed forces.

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