Memorial Day Tribute Brings Thousands to Fort Snelling

Thousands of volunteers gathered at Fort Snelling National Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day weekend to place American flags at the gravesites of veterans and service members buried there.

The annual tradition has become one of the region’s most meaningful tributes to those who sacrificed in service to the country.

Among the volunteers this year was Marine veteran Brandon Stanek of Zimmerman, Minnesota, who brought his two daughters to help place flags and reflect on the true meaning of the holiday.

“Just showing them that I’ve been gone a lot on deployments and a lot of military stuff, and I just wanted them to know that this weekend’s great and everything, but they have a weekend off school for a bigger purpose,” Stanek said.

Honoring Family and Sacrifice

For Stanek, the experience was also deeply personal.

Several members of his family — including both grandfathers and grandmothers — are buried at Fort Snelling.

The cemetery serves as the final resting place for approximately 195,000 people, making it one of the nation’s most significant military cemeteries.

Rows upon rows of American flags now line the grounds as a visual reminder of service, sacrifice, and remembrance.

A Tradition That Continues to Grow

Organizers say participation in the event continues to expand each year.

Joanne Malmstedt, founder of Flags for Fort Snelling, said more volunteers are showing up not only because of family military connections, but because they feel personally called to honor veterans.

“There are almost equal amounts that almost don’t have military ties,” Malmstedt said. “But they are finding an internal importance on making sure that the veterans and those that did serve are being honored and remembered.”

Remembering American Heroes

The day also included moments of reflection from younger generations.

Members of the Bloomington Jefferson High School football team took a knee at the cemetery to remember Bloomington native Tom Burnett, one of the passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 hijacking on September 11, 2001.

Burnett helped lead the passenger revolt against hijackers before the plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field, preventing what officials believe was a planned attack on the Pentagon.

“When he got on that plane, Flight 93, he had no intentions of being a hero,” said coach Marc Bachman.

A Powerful Memorial Day Reminder

The flags placed throughout Fort Snelling National Cemetery will remain in place throughout Memorial Day week, offering visitors a powerful visual tribute to those who served.

And for many families, veterans, and volunteers, the tradition serves as an important reminder that Memorial Day is about far more than cookouts and long weekends.

It is about remembering the lives behind every flag.