Latest news with #FortSnelling
CBS News
19 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Minnesotans celebrate Juneteenth through food, music and history lessons
Across Minnesota, communities came together to celebrate a day that's more than a holiday, but the heartbeat of freedom. Juneteenth, now recognized as a federal holiday, is more than a day off; it's an important reminder of freedom delayed but never denied. It marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Texas learned they were free. In south Minneapolis, people gathered for food and music as children jumped Double Dutch. In north Minneapolis, there was a parade full of excitement. But at Historic Fort Snelling, people took a different approach. More than 400 people took a guided tour on the grounds where slavery once existed. Dred and Harriet Scott lived and labored there in the 1830s. A man whose fight for freedom was one of the most infamous Supreme Court decisions, where the courts denied Black people freedom. For Loretta Kennedy and her family, it was crucial to book the tour. "Everybody needs to know their name and who they were," Kennedy said. "If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here." It's a day filled with love and rooted in history and hope.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
2025 Juneteenth events in the east metro
Juneteenth is a federal holiday Thursday marking the day when slaves in Texas were told about the Emancipation Proclamation, two years after it had been announced. Minnesota also recognizes Juneteenth as a state holiday. State, county and city offices are closed, as are federal offices and banks. The following events are among those taking place in the Twin Cities in commemoration of the holiday: Rondo 2025 Juneteenth Celebration: The Rondo Center of Diverse Expressions is hosting its Juneteenth observance from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, at the Rondo Commemorative Plaza, 820 Rondo Avenue in St. Paul. Programmed events include speeches from public officials and the announcement of the recipients of the Spirit of Rondo awards and take place from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The theme this year is 'The Journey of Four Families.' In partnership with In Black Ink, organizers will reveal new exhibit panels on the Rondo Commemorative Plaza that tell the history and genealogical stories of several Rondo families. For more information go to Juneteenth at the Fort: To celebrate Juneteenth Fort Snelling is hosting a series of tours — from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, June 19 — focusing on African American history at the fort from it's inception in 1819 through the 1880s. There will be stories of enslaved people brought to the fort, many of whom fought for their freedom in court, including Dred and Harriet Scott. The tour also will explore the history of the 25th Infantry, which was stationed at Fort Snelling in the 1880s, and their regimental band. The hour-long tours will be offered at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tours may fill quickly and are on a first come first served basis. The fort is located at 200 Tower Ave. in St. Paul. For more information go to ftsnelling@ Feeding Our Souls: The Essence of Juneteenth Joy with Dr. Jessica B. Harris: Culinary historian, author of several books including High on the Hog, winner of two NAACP Image Awards, a Peabody Award, and James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement award winner Dr. Jessica B. Harris will hold a conversation with Minnesota History Center CEO Kevin Lindsey on the topic of how food shapes our identities and understandings of cultural heritage. After the program, organized by the Minnesota Humanities Center, guests are invited to taste samples of several area chefs' signature dishes. The event is $25 and is from 5:15 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at the Minnesota History Center, at 345 W. Kellogg Blvd. in St. Paul. For more information go to Juneteenth Brunch & Conversation with Sherrilyn Ifill: Sherrilyn Ifill, the Vernon Jordan Professor of Law of Civil Rights at Howard University School of Law and former President and director–counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc., will take part in a conversation and brunch from 9:15 to 11 a.m. Thursday, June 19, at Quincy Hall, 1325 Quincy St N.E., Minneapolis. The event, organized by the Minnesota Humanities Center, is $100. For more information go to Juneteenth Family Day with Anika Foundation: The Minnesota Humanities Center is sponsoring the Anika Foundation Juneteenth Family Celebration! The event is free and will feature family-friendly fun, games, and community. The event is from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at the State Capitol in St. Paul. For more information go to Vadnais Heights Freedom Day Festival: The Vadnais Heights Community Action Network and the city of Vadnais Heights are hosting Vadnais Heights Freedom Day Festival from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, at Kohler Meadows Park, at 365 County Road F East in Vadnais Heights. This year's event features live music, food, art, education, and family fun. Shemeka Bogan, of the Strong Roots Foundation, will be event emcee. Bogan is co-founder of the Northside Juneteenth Celebration, a nonprofit that has been lifting up Juneteenth on the Minneapolis Northside for the past six years. The event is free to attend, but meal tickets must be reserved by registering at Eventbrite at To keep the event free organizers have an online auction that will run through June 24, raising money for next year's celebration. For more information go to: Juneteenth Family Day Celebration: West St. Paul's Residents of Color Collective is hosting a Juneteenth celebration from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at the Dodge Nature Center at the Main Property, Farm Entrance, 1701 Charlton Street, West St. Paul. The event will feature shopping from BIPOC-owned businesses, learning with Dodge naturalists, arts and crafts activities, live music and food available for purchase. For more information at go Honoring Resilience: Woodbury for Justice and Equality will be hosting a Juneteenth celebration, 'Honoring the Resilience,' from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Ojibway Park in Woodbury. Those attending can enjoy food from local vendors, live music and dance, and games, crafts and educational opportunities for all ages. More information: Juneteenth Celebration at First Covenant Church: First Covenant Church is hosting a Juneteenth event from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 18. The church is located at 1280 Arcade St. in St. Paul. There will be food, music, games, art, and community resources. After surviving collapse, fire and Dillinger escape, Dakota County swing bridge begins new chapter Germanic-American Institute's German Days will have a Swiss twist this weekend St. Paul street dance festival will feature local and out-of-state performers Lowertown Sounds kickoff postponed due to impending storms Maplewood: Goodrich Golf Course reopens with upgrades to grounds, environment
CBS News
26-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
How to watch: Memorial Day ceremony at Fort Snelling National Cemetery honors fallen service members
Hundreds will mark Memorial Day at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis on Monday as wreaths are laid on the graves of fallen service members. The service, hosted annually by the Department of Veterans Affairs, will also feature a moment of silence, a rifle volley and the playing of "Taps." Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to attend. Law enforcement professional Dr. Everett Doolittle will give the keynote address. How to watch Fort Snelling National Cemetery's Memorial Day ceremony What: Fort Snelling National Cemetery hosts Memorial Day remembrance ceremony Date: May 26, 2025 Time: 9:45 a.m. Location: Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota Online stream: Live on CBS News Minnesota in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device. Each year, volunteers place nearly 200,000 flags on the graves at the cemetery in advance of Memorial Day. The holiday honoring those who died while serving started in the years after the Civil War and became an official holiday in 1971. In 2000, Congress passed the National Law of Remembrance. It encourages everyone to pause for one minute at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to reflect on service members' sacrifices.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
One person revived the Memorial Day flags tradition at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Here's why.
A few days before Memorial Day, Joanne Malmstedt sat at a folding table in a parking lot at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, surrounded by trucks and supplies and volunteers, studying several maps in front of her like the leader of a military campaign. In a way, she is the leader of a military campaign — or, one that honors veterans with military-like precision. It was on Thursday that Malmstedt, the founder and president of Flags for Fort Snelling, was mapping out the waves of volunteers who come to the national cemetery every May to place U.S. flags on every grave for Memorial Day. This year, those volunteers will total approximately 3,700 to 4,700 people, all working to place (and, later, to remove) more than 190,000 flags at the graves over the span of several days. For Malmstedt, the campaign — now in its 10th year — goes beyond a personal gesture of remembrance for the veterans in her own family, her father and her great grandfather, who are buried here. 'These men and women sacrificed so much,' says Malmstedt, 44, of Blaine. 'I really want to make sure that sacrifice is not forgotten.' While the nonprofit honors all who served our country — expanding the day of remembrance beyond those who died while serving — the origin of what we now call Memorial Day was meant to honor those who died in the Civil War. Fort Snelling National Cemetery, located near the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport International Airport on 34th Avenue, is the only national cemetery in Minnesota, a place to honor veterans (and their eligible family members) under the oversight of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' National Cemetery Administration. Minnesota's national cemetery was formally dedicated almost 86 years ago, on July 14, 1939, according to the cemetery's website. Days before that dedication, on July 5, the first veteran was laid to rest there: His name is George H. Mallon, a Medal of Honor recipient who served as a captain in the U.S. Army during World War I. After his courage leading his men in battle in France in 1918, he was included in an American general's list of 100 heroes of World War I. He returned home later, where he was active in Minnesota politics. He died at age 57. Mallon's grave is located near a large plaque displaying the Memorial Day Order of 1868, situated in a prominent spot near the cemetery's main entrance. In Order No. 11, John Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic — a veterans' organization — declared that a day in May should be dedicated to 'decorating' the graves of the Civil War fallen. '100 deadliest days' on roads kick off Memorial Day weekend Alternatives to defunding: Who goes to help when police aren't needed? 'Defund the Police,' five years later: What did the movement accomplish? Apple Valley park's $16M renovation to feature inclusive playground, new pool Memorial Day events in the Twin Cities metro area this weekend This day, the order commanded, should be 'designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion and whose bodies now lie in every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit … ' … Let us, then, at the time appointed, gather around their sacred remains and garland the passionless mounds above them with choicest flowers of springtime; let us raise above them the dear old flag they saved from dishonor …' Later on, Decoration Day became known as Memorial Day, a federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May, 'an annual day of remembrance,' according to the National Archives, 'to honor all those who have died in service to the United States during peace and war.' It was a decade ago, as Memorial Day 2015 approached, when a phone call to Fort Snelling National Cemetery led Malmstedt to be the change she wished to see in the world. 'I had called the cemetery to ask, 'How do we volunteer to help put flags out?'' she recalls. 'My kids were little at the time and I wanted to show them, 'This is who Memorial Day is for' because they weren't understanding the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day.' (Veterans Day, a federal holiday in November, honors military veterans.) However, what she learned from that call surprised her. 'The person I talked to said, 'We don't do that anymore,'' she says. That didn't stop Malmstedt. 'I went on social media and was like, 'I can't believe the cemetery doesn't do this — I'm still going out there so my kids can see what it's for, if anybody wants to join me,'' she recalls. 'And so I had about 12 friends and their kids come and help put out 3,700 of the tiny stick flags.' Local news media, on site for Memorial Day, noticed the group at work. 'They asked us, 'What are you guys doing?'' Malmstedt says. 'We told them we were putting out flags and they asked, 'Whose idea was this?' One of my friends pointed to me and they came over and did the interview. The response we got from it was the same as mine: Nobody knew it wasn't done. And then, a few days later, I got a call from the director of the cemetery, who asked for a meeting. I initially thought I was in trouble.' She wasn't. 'He thanked me immensely for what we did, because it brought to light the fact that it wasn't done anymore,' she says. She left the meeting feeling determined to revive the 'decorating' tradition. 'That's when I said, 'I'm doing this, I'm going to make this happen,'' she said. 'I laugh looking back, because at the time as a single mom of three little kids, I had no business taking this on. But now, this is our 10-year anniversary this year. Looking back, it's like, 'Wow.' We've been making it happen and I really want to make sure we continue to make it happen.' The people who work at Fort Snelling National Cemetery appreciate it. 'We all owe a debt of gratitude to Joanne Malmstedt and her team for volunteering to serve a greater good, while educating future generations on the importance of service and sacrifice,' said Marshall Murphy, deputy director of Fort Snelling National Cemetery, in a statement to the Pioneer Press. 'Fort Snelling National Cemetery has a rich history of honoring veterans on Memorial Day — including placing flags at every grave,' Murphy said. 'Over time, the ever-increasing volume of work at the cemetery outpaced the cemetery staff's ability to coordinate volunteers to assist with the transport, placement, retrieval, repair and storage of the flags each year. In 2015, Joanne saw an opportunity to serve veterans, her community and her country, and volunteered to lead this project. 'As the fifth busiest national cemetery coordinating 5,000+ interments per year and managing 193,000 existing gravesites, Fort Snelling National Cemetery is extremely grateful for support from volunteers like Joanne.' Malmstedt hopes her story inspires others to do what her nonprofit has done. 'I would love to see other groups, other people, piggyback off this and be like, 'Hey, you know what? We're going to start doing this at other cemeteries,'' she says. 'It would be nice if all those that are laid to rest are able to be honored and remembered, too.' Malmstedt, who also works as a mechanical adjuster for Federal Ammunition and owns a cleaning company, A Patriots Clean, says it requires a group effort to make Flags for Fort Snelling's annual operation come together, from labor to donations. On Thursday, volunteers were working in a parking lot at the cemetery, water sealing the wooden staffs of the flags to prevent mold growth. They worked quickly, dipping flag bundles into buckets of clear wood sealer before placing the flags on tarps to dry in the sun. It was volunteer work they said they felt privileged to do. 'We have multiple family members buried here,' said volunteer Tina Friedel of Osceola, Wis. 'It's just a little way to give something back.' Nearby, Jill Cooper and her partner, Barry Gustafson, were breaking down boxes and doing other tasks needed on this preparation day. The Minneapolis couple serves in the core group every year, directing and helping other volunteers in this regimented operation. 'We don't want to spend our Memorial Day drinking at a picnic,' Cooper says. 'We want to spend our weekend here, doing something to give back. 'I know a lot of these vets did not pass away in war,' Cooper says, 'but they still served, and they deserve all this respect.' A few days earlier, as part of a fundraising effort, Malmstedt spoke to the cadets of St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights about the nonprofit behind the flags. It has grown since that phone call to the cemetery: Now, Malmstedt's nonprofit has a co-leader, MacKenzie Anderson, a board of directors and other individuals and companies who help provide storage space, T-shirts, labor and more. 'We are a small, volunteer-based nonprofit,' she told the cadets. 'Myself, my partner and my other board members, all of us are volunteers. We put in hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of unpaid hours toward this mission every single year … ' … Now, 10 years later, it seems like it's a well-oiled machine, but it takes a lot of work to get there,' she said. 'The first year that we did this as a nonprofit, we were able to raise funds to place 10,000 flags … it was overwhelming that year, just to see 10,000 flags. However, now in our 10th year, we will be close to placing 195,000 flags. 'Not only do we place those flags Memorial Day weekend, but they are able to stay out and be visible and be out for honoring and remembering all week during that Memorial week; we also have to go back out and pick up all flags so we can store them and reuse them for years to come. 'With that being said, the cemetery does grow on average of 5,300 people every single year for interments. With those growing costs, so do our costs for flags and all of the other operational needs to be able to make this happen every single year. The only way that we make this happen and continue to honor and remember all those laid to rest at Fort Snelling National Cemetery is through the generosity of the donations that we receive and the volunteers that come and help us.' As she spoke, one young man in particular was impressed: her son. U of M researchers are planting 'survivor' trees in hopes of defeating Dutch elm disease Judicial cookout for the homeless renamed for late founder Jim Randall In 17th year, Rick's Bike Sale surpasses $600K in donations for Dakota County nonprofits Climate action group schedules first Ward 4 candidate forum for Tuesday CommonBond Communities to outsource, layoff 117 from St. Paul headquarters 'Just the sheer will that she has to tackle something like this is inspiring to me,' says Logan Ogroske, an 18-year-old college student who accompanied his mother to St. Thomas Academy. 'It gives me inspiration that I can tackle things, too.' Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kim Friede, a military leadership instructor at St. Thomas Academy, is also inspired — especially with the visual impact that illustrates the ripple effect of one person's decision to step up. 'If you've ever passed Fort Snelling National Cemetery during the Memorial Day weekend, then you know the emotional experience that is created by a virtual sea of U.S. flags placed on each and every gravesite,' Friede told the cadets. 'It simply takes your breath away.' The cadets donated more than $2,000 to the nonprofit. Some signed up to volunteer, too. Flags for Fort Snelling founder and president Joanne Malmstedt at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) Flags for Fort Snelling founder and president Joanne Malmstedt at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Malmstedt, of Blaine, started the nonprofit in 2015 as a way to honor the veterans in her family and teach her children the purpose of Memorial Day. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) Flags for Fort Snelling founder and president Joanne Malmstedt gives instructions to volunteers before they place flags next to headstones at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) Flags for Fort Snelling volunteer Gabrielle Wojdyla-Just of Minneapolis helps her dad, Ryan Just, place flags next to headstones at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Gabrielle's mom is currently stationed overseas with the United States Navy. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) 'This is really grounding and important to experience this,' said Flags for Fort Snelling volunteer Ranee Johnson, right, as she,( r-l) her daughter Makena, 16, husband Michael, and Kyler, 14, place flags next to headstones at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. This was the second year the Rosemount family spent the Saturday morning of Memorial Day weekend volunteering for Flags for Fort Snelling to honor relatives at the cemetery. Joanne Malmstedt of Blaine started the nonprofit in 2015 as a way to honor the veterans in her family and teach her children the purpose of Memorial Day. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) 'This is really grounding and important to experience this,' said Flag for Fort Snelling volunteer Ranee Johnson, right, as she and her daughter Makena, 16, place flags next to headstones at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. This was the second year the Rosemount family spent the Saturday morning of Memorial Day weekend volunteering for Flags for Fort Snelling to honor relatives at the cemetery. Joanne Malmstedt of Blaine started the nonprofit in 2015 as a way to honor the veterans in her family and teach her children the purpose of Memorial Day. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) Flags for Fort Snelling volunteers Gail and Rich Thiel of Stockbridge, Wis., place flags at headstones at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Joanne Malmstedt of Blaine started the nonprofit in 2015 as a way to honor the veterans in her family and teach her children the purpose of Memorial Day. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) Volunteers with Flags for Fort Snelling helped place close to 195,000 flags at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Joanne Malmstedt of Blaine started the nonprofit in 2015 as a way to honor the veterans in her family and teach her children the purpose of Memorial Day. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) Volunteers with Flags for Fort Snelling will place close to 195,000 flags at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Joanne Malmstedt of Blaine started the nonprofit in 2015 as a way to honor the veterans in her family and teach her children the purpose of Memorial Day. (John Autey / Pioneer Press) Show Caption1 of 10Volunteers with Flags for Fort Snelling placed some of the more than 190,000 flags at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Joanne Malmstedt of Blaine started the nonprofit in 2015 as a way to honor the veterans in her family and teach her children the purpose of Memorial Day. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)Expand After the Memorial Day observation, Flags for Fort Snelling is seeking volunteers to collect flags for return to storage on May 31 (and potentially continuing the work on June 1). To register, donate or learn more, visit Other volunteering opportunities: If you or your organization are interested in volunteering at a VA national cemetery near you, visit
