Memorial Day weekend is here, kicking off the unofficial start to summer in the Brainerd lakes area.
While we hope everyone has the chance to enjoy time with friends and family this weekend, we also hope everyone makes time to pay their respects to those service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
There are plenty of options to do so.
Brainerd’s Memorial Day celebration starts at 9 a.m. Monday on the Laurel Street bridge followed by a short service at the All Veterans Memorial at the Crow Wing County Historic Courthouse. At 10:30 a.m. a parade will start on First Avenue Northeast and move to Evergreen Cemetery, where the ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.
Crosslake’s Memorial Day services will be Sunday at Crosslake Lutheran Church and Monday at Pinewood Cemetery.
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At 10 a.m. Sunday, a communitywide observance will be at the church’s Outdoor Worship center at 14049 Daggett Pine Road across from the Crosslake Community Center baseball field.
At 10 a.m. Monday, the Crosslake/Fifty Lakes American Legion Post 500 will lead the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery.
Near Camp Ripley, the memorial event will start at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery.
Nisswa’s ceremony will start at noon Monday at the Nisswa American Legion.
The Ben Krueger American Legion Post 49 Memorial Day event will begin at 10 a.m. Monday in the Pequot Lakes High School auditorium.
The Pine River American Legion Post 163 will host three Memorial Day services Monday — one at 9:30 a.m. at the Pine River Dam, 10 a.m. at Pine Ridge Cemetery and 11 a.m. at Swanburg Cemetery.
In Backus, the first ceremony is 10 a.m. Monday at the Backus Evergreen Cemetery followed by another service at 11 a.m. at Ponto Lake Cemetery.
If we’ve missed any services here, check in the Sunday edition of the Brainerd Dispatch or www.brainerddispatch.com for more options.
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We’re certain many will also use the longer weekend and — hopefully — warmer temperatures to get outside and enjoy themselves. We hope many do, and do so safely. Experts with AAA expect this to be the most active Memorial Day travel weekend in three years. We’d imagine our area lakes will be just as busy.
Memorial Day is a day in which we honor those who fought and died for our country. We encourage everyone to take time out of their weekend, even if for only a moment, to pay tribute and honor these men and women who so rightfully deserve it.
However you choose to celebrate Memorial Day weekend, do so respectfully and in a safe manner.
The Trust Project
