Memorial Day is Monday, May 26, 2025, and for many, it’s a day on the lake, a day planting flowers, or even just a day of relaxation because they don’t have to work. What is the true meaning of Memorial Day? “Memorial is a day of remembrance and it’s a remembrance of all those who served in the services for our country to keep us free,” says Jamie Cassavant of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, which is part of the Crookston Veterans Council. “They have fought and died for our country and we remember them, we should remember them, every Memorial Day.”
Each year in Crookston there is a Memorial Day Service. The service starts early in the morning and continues until around the noon hour. “For many, many years, we do several ceremonies. We do the first one out at Hafslo Lutheran Church Cemetery, then we go from there to the Gentilly Cemetery and from there we go to Oakdale Cemetery,” says Cassavant. “We do the big ceremony there with everyone marching in.”
The final stop for the Memorial Day Service is at the Sampson Naval Bridge where a wreath is laid in the water for all naval members who have been lost. You will also hear Taps played by Scott Kleven and the Rifle Squad will be there do their salute.
The Memorial Day Service last just a few hours once a year but the planning for it is intense. “What people probably don’t realize is the amount of dedication and work, and commitment it takes for this to happen,” says Cassavant. “There are days and days before hand, and meetings, we just had our final meeting the other night and there were 20 of us there. We have to get the barricades, we have to get the police department, we have to do all those things, but, it is an honor for us. It’s what we do and we do it with much love.”
The schedule for the Monday, May 26, Memorial Day Service is:
Hafslo Lutheran Church Cemetery 8:15 a.m.
St. Peter’s Catholic Church Cemetery – Gentilly 9:00 a.m.
Memorial Day Program at Oakdale Cemetery 10:00 a.m.