Memorial Day weekend events salute Montana's fallen heroes (2024)

Memorial Day ceremonies and events in Missoula, the Bitterroot Valley and northwest Montana.

Public Events

Sunday

Monday

97th annual Memorial Day wreath ceremonies, Missoula

7 a.m. – Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery, military flag poles. Sunrise service. One wreath presented at base of flag display. Playing of taps. Schedule for day given to public. No shooting.

9:30 a.m. – VFW Post 209 Headquarters, 245 W. Main St., 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. Chaplain says opening prayer. Schedule for day given to general public.

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. Playing of taps. Schedule for day given to general public.

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 at Doughboy Statue. Full military honors. Playing of taps. Schedule for day given to general public.

11:15 a.m. – Fort Missoula Military Cemetery, Ole Beck Grave. Presentation of wreath. Full military honors. Playing of taps. Schedule for day given to general public.

11:30 a.m.-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.

Noon – Sunset Memorial Gardens, Veterans Monument. Wreath presentation at each military flag and American Legion rock. Full military honors. Playing of taps. Service starts at noon.

1:45 p.m.– Sunset Memorial Gardens, Veterans Monument. Flag dedication and wreath ceremony about 1:45 p.m. Full military honors. Playing of taps. Lunch served.

2:15 p.m.– Missoula City Cemetery, Veterans Monument. Wreath presentation. Full military honors. Playing of taps.

2:30 p.m.– St. Mary’s Cemetery Annex, Jesus Statue. Presentation of wreath. Full military honors. Playing of taps.

3 p.m.– St. Mary’s Cemetery, Veterans 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.

Memorial Day parade,Polson, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a ceremony at the cemetery.

In Hamilton— Color Guard Honors & Wreath Presentation Ceremonies by the American Legion Ravalli Post 47, the American Legion Auxiliary and the Marine Corps League, Bitterroot Valley Detachment #937.

8 a.m.: Ravalli County Museum on Bedford Street, honors and wreath presentation service.

8:30 a.m.: Wreath service and honors for those lost at sea at Main Street Bridge over the Bitterroot River.

9 a.m.: Wreath laying service and honors at the Riverview Cemetery military memorial.

104th Memorial Day parade presented by the Corvallis American Legion Post #91, Auxiliary Unit of Corvallis Post #91 and Terry Nobles Squadron of Corvallis Post #91 present, 10 a.m., Main Street, Corvallis. This year the parade theme is “Military Animals” serving the military and veterans. The Parade Grand Marshal is a U.S. Army veteran, and Post #91 member Donald Helmbrecht. After the parade, at the Corvallis Cemetery at noon, Post #91 will conduct its annual memorial ceremony. Post members will name all the veterans buried at the cemetery dating back to the Mexican War (1848). After the cemetery ceremony, post members will move to the Woodside Cutoff Bridge and place a wreath in the Bitterroot River for all those who died at sea. The public is invited. For more information, email corvallispost91@gmail.com or call Doug Mason at 406-546-4244.