Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many area Memorial Day events have been canceled.
However, members of the Detroit Lakes VFW, American Legion, DAV and their respective auxiliary organizations, along with the Lake Region Veterans Color Guard, are planning a small ceremony Monday morning, May 25, near the flags at Veterans Memorial Park.
"The Color Guard will do a quick little presenting of the colors with a 21-gun salute, and our chaplain will say a prayer; that's about it," said Jason Bristlin, senior vice commander, of Detroit Lakes VFW Post 1676, which is organizing this year's celebration. "We're not looking to make it a big public event for a bunch of people to come out, we just want to render honors."
It is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.; vehicle access on Veterans Memorial Parkway will be shut down beginning at 9:30 a.m. At noon, VFW members will raise the flags from half to full staff.
Those who plan to attend the ceremony in person are asked to take appropriate social-distancing precautions, Bristlin said.
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In addition, the weekend Avenue of Flags display at Detroit Lakes' Oak Grove Cemetery will go on as planned.
Canceled this year were Detroit Lakes' Memorial Day parade, as well as programs in Audubon, Perham and Dent.
