St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis Highlights True Meaning of Memorial Day

(KNSI) – Local leaders remind residents that the holiday weekend is more than boats and barbecues.

It was the topic of St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis’ weekly address. “This Monday is Memorial Day. The date that our nation sets aside to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and our liberty and to live in this free country.”

Kleis explained what makes Monday’s recognition different than others honoring members of the armed forces. “We honor veterans on Veterans Day of all branches of the service. We honor those who are serving in the military on Armed Forces Day. But this is a special day that we honor those who died in battle and gave the last full measure of devotion to our nation.”

Kleis also wants people to remember all who served in combat and died years later from their physical and mental wounds.

Memorial Day sprung from Decoration Day, which began after the Civil War in 1868. The day was celebrated on May 30th until 1970. Congress then set aside the last Monday in May as Memorial Day.

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs will hold a ceremony at the Veterans Cemetary in Little Falls on Sunday, May 26th, at 2:00 p.m.

A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the St. Cloud VA on Monday. The St. Cloud Area Metropolitan Veterans Council will coordinate the ceremony, which will be held inside Building Eight starting at 10:30 a.m.

Also on Monday, the St. Joseph American Legion will begin a march to St. Joseph Catholic Church at 8:45 a.m. The service is scheduled for 15 minutes later. The group will then visit St. John’s Abbey Cemetery at 11:15 a.m. and the Yankee Cemetery just south of the city at noon.

Sartell’s annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Sartell Community Center on Monday at 9:00 a.m.

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