Shakopee Mdewakanton Invites You to Memorial Day Ceremony

Each year the  holds a Memorial Day Ceremony to honor those who have journeyed to the spirit world along with veterans living and deceased. The ceremony, which is held at the SMSC Veterans Monument on the grounds of the Tiowakan Spiritual Center just west of the SMSC Community Center, is open to the public.

There will be a Special Remembrance of Community members who have passed away and all those who are buried in the SMSC Cemetery from 1969 to the present. Community members who served in the Armed Services of the United States of America and who are now enshrined forever on the SMSC Veterans Monument will also be honored.

The event will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 28, 2012, with a rendering of honors by the Post #4046 and the Shakopee American Legion Post #2. SMSC Cultural Resources Director Leonard Wabasha will give the invocation in both Dakota and English and former V ice-Chairman Glynn A. Crooks will serve as the Master of Ceremonies. The Sisseton-Wahpeton Vietnam Veterans Color Guard will enter in formation to present and raise the flags. The drum group Mazakute from the Santee Sioux Nation in Nebraska will sing the flag song and other traditional songs.

Members of the SMSC Business Council will give the welcome and students from the SMSC Education Department will present a wreath.  A 21 Gun Salute and Taps will also be rendered by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Vietnam Veterans Color Guard.

Refreshments will be served in a tent immediately following the conclusion of the ceremony. In case of bad weather, the Ceremony will move indoors to the nearby Tiowakan Spiritual Center.

Tiowakan Spiritual Center is located at 14625 Praire Grass Drive, Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372.