Memorial Day Celebration
- Lakewood Cemetery
- Nov 23, 2018
- 5 min read
Monday, May 27, 2019 | Ceremony: 10:30 a.m. | Activities: 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the special day! Mark your calendars for next year's event on Monday, May 25, 2020.
Join us on this special day of commemoration to experience a day filled with stories that help us honor and remember those we love and miss.
Note: Due to the weather, today's ceremony will take place in the Memorial Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Please note: the Chapel has limited seating/capacity. The Chapel is the building with the red-domed roof, just down the main road (veer slight right from the main gates).
Our afternoon activities for this event will take place indoors today -- either in the Memorial Chapel or the Garden Mausoleum (both buildings are located near the front gates). See below for more information. Maps will be available in the Memorial Chapel.
Memorial Day Ceremony, 10:30 a.m.
Takes place in the Memorial Chapel. Please note: there is limited seating inside the Chapel.
This year’s ceremony features stories that help us honor and remember military veterans and the many people we love and miss on this special day:
Keynote address by author Jacquelyn Fletcher, who will share how stories are the foundation for everything we do and all of who we are.
A story of heroism to honor the 75th anniversary of D-Day (World War II) from local author and historian Douglas Bekke
Music from the amazing voice of Robert Robinson
The service will also include musical accompaniment by the Minneapolis Police Band and our popular dove release. Chairs will be provided, but you may also bring your own blanket or portable chair.
Tours, Activities & Exhibits, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
All activities are free and take place from 12 p.m. (noon) to 3 p.m., unless otherwise noted.
Takes place inside the Garden Mausoleum, upper level.
As you think about those you love and miss on this day of remembrance, we invite you to join certified Great Story Coach Jacquelyn Fletcher to uncover and capture your own stories or enjoy those shared by others.
Participate in these hands-on story sessions for a fun and meaningful experience:
Go on a story hunt! Hunt for stories to find the roots of your own heroism and courage through memories of loved ones.
Write a Dear You letter. Write a letter to a deceased family member or friend about a memory you have about them and how that person has impacted your life.
Give a story to a stranger. Write an uplifting letter to a stranger and give it away at the event.
Get words of encouragement. Take a Dear You letter from a collection previously written by kids, teens and adults if you’re in need of encouragement and support.
Story Sessions start at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Memorial Day. You're welcome to join in at any time. Learn more about this activity.
Ribbons will be available inside the Memorial Chapel.
Add a ribbon to honor the memory of a loved one on our new Living Memory Tree, a collective display of remembrance and love. Learn about this unique memorial.
Trolley Tours of Lakewood’s History, Art and Gardens
Board trolleys in front of the Chapel. Trolleys will continue if raining (but could be postponed or delayed if thunderstorms).
A haven in the heart of Minneapolis, Lakewood's grounds are a fascinating chronicle of local cultures and traditions. On this trolley tour of history, art and gardens at Lakewood, enjoy scenic views of Lakewood’s 250 acres as you learn the stories of its founding and some of those who've chosen Lakewood as their final resting place.
Tours are approx. 30 minutes long and will depart every 15 minutes from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Seating is open and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Guided Tours of the Lakewood Chapel
Takes place inside the Chapel; may be delayed today due to the ceremony being moved into the Chapel.
One the city's most beloved architectural treasures, the Lakewood Chapel, including its lower level, will be open for you to see on Memorial Day. Take a guided tour of the Chapel to hear the story of its creation and have the opportunity to ask questions.
Tours are approx. 30 minutes long and will start at 12 p.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Seating is open and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Live Harp & Flute inside the Chapel
Takes place inside the Chapel; may be delayed today due to the ceremony being moved into the Chapel.
Between Chapel tours, admire the beauty of the Chapel's mosaic interior, which was hand laid by Italian artisans in 1910, while enjoying music from flutist Jane Strauman and harpist Catherine Victorsen.
Live music will run for 20-30 minute intervals, starting at approx. 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Seating is open and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Horse-and-Carriage Rides
Takes place around Section 2 on the west side of the cemetery. This activity will continue in rain the carriages have a roof/top.
Travel through the cemetery as visitors once did – by horse and carriage. Enjoy a pleasant ride around Lakewood’s oldest section with views of beautiful, historic monuments.
Rides are approximately 15-20 minutes long and run from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Historic Streetcar Line Rides, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Board at Lakewood's old streetcar gate on the west side of the cemetery.
Take a round trip on the historic Lake Harriet streetcar this Memorial Day, brought to you by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum. Board at Lakewood’s old streetcar entrance (see the map in the event program available that day).
The Minnesota Streetcar Museum charges $2.50 for a round trip; kids 3 & under ride free. “Lakewood Chapel: 1910 to Today” Exhibit
On display inside the Chapel, lower level. Use stairs inside the Chapel to access the lower level.
Discover Lakewood’s Byzantine-style mosaic chapel, from its 1910 construction to its 1997 renovation. The exhibit includes historic photos of the Lakewood trustees who commissioned the chapel to be built, many of whom were prominent in Minneapolis’ development as a city.
Refreshments & live music
Takes place inside the Garden Mausoleum today.
Enjoy free coffee, lemonade and cookies in the upper level of the Garden Mausoleum.
Self-guided tour booklets
Lakewood offers free self-guided walking/driving tour brochures:
Lakewood Cemetery: A Self-Guided Tour
Lakewood Memorial Chapel: A Visitor’s Guide
A Tour of Memorial Symbolism at Lakewood Cemetery
Pick them up in Lakewood's Administration Building / Main Office (at the front entrance) or inside the Lakewood Memorial Chapel. You can also download the Lakewood Cemetery mobile app for several tour options.
Flowers During Memorial Day weekend, you can purchase fresh floral bouquets for loved ones’ graves. Prices range from $10 to $25. Look for the tent just inside our main gate. You can also find containers for bouquets of fresh flowers and a limited number of small flags along the main road as you enter the cemetery. You may use them free of charge.
Parking You may park along roads in the cemetery, except where there are "no parking" signs. Traffic in the cemetery on Memorial Day can be heavily congested, especially when entering or exiting the cemetery at the 36th Street & Hennepin Avenue entrance. To avoid traffic congestion, you can also use the 40th Street gate, which is open on Memorial Day. Another option is to park at the 42nd Street Depot by Lake Harriet and ride the streetcar to Lakewood. Visit the Minnesota Streetcar Museum for more information.
Cost
Free and open to the public, except for the flowers for sale and $2.50 streetcar rides provided by the Minnesota Streetcar Museum.
Questions? Call (612) 822-2171 or email us at info@lakewoodcemetery.org.
Learn more about Lakewood, events and history
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