The March

We are a group of Veterans from all branches of service, and family members and friends who road march (aka walk) 28 miles on Memorial Day to honor the men and women who have died while serving our country. We also walk to raise awareness for the meaning of the holiday and to give ourselves an excuse to hang out. We meet in Hastings early that morning and take a shuttle bus courtesy of Hastings Bus Conpany to our start point in Red Wing. We step off at 6am and end in Hastings around 6pm. It's very doable. We walk as a group, this is not a race of any kind. We try to keep it around a 3mph pace and stop every hour at designated checkpoints for a 10-15 min break. Veterans are free but there is a $28 charge for non Veterans. The cost includes t-shirt, transportation and meals. We celebrate at the end in Hastings on the riverfront at the Veterans Memorial and Rotary Pavilion. A dinner and entertainment will be waiting for us there.

Honor Markers

We place "honor markers" along the route every mile to honor our fallen comrades. All branches of service are represented. Multiple conflicts are represented. Walkers may request a new marker for someone that has died while serving our country. Just note that when registering.

The Route

We walk along a scenic route named the "Great River Road" from Red Wing, MN to Hastings, MN.

It has a great start at the Field of Honor in Bay Point Park and on our final stretch we cross the Hastings arch bridge over the Mississippi to the Veterans Memorial and Rotary Pavilion on the river. If there ever was a route For Them, this is it. 

For Them

We walk to honor these fallen comrades as well as the over *626,000  others who have given their lives while serving our country since the Civil War. You'll see the list includes members from all branches of service and both men and women. Walkers can post new markers to honor a friend or family member. Just note that when registering here. 

(*according to the U.S. Army Military Institute)

Join Us Next Year!

Are you interested in walking in our 2020 March For Them? Click on the button below to be put on our contact list. We have Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Army all represented in our March. We haven't had a Coast Guard Veteran join our group yet. So if you are one, we'll figure out sign on reward! Family and other non-Veteran supporters are welcome to walk too. Teenagers may walk if they have a parent or other guardian walking with them. We welcome anyone willing to help us honor Them and walk 28 miles to do so.

To Donate or Sponsor

So maybe 28 miles is a little too far, or you just can't be there. No worries. You can still be a Virtual Marcher by donating $28 instead. Of course if you want to "virtually march" more you are welcome to. You can make that donation at the link below. 

Does your business want to support the March? 

We do have sponsorship opportunities.

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What is the money for?

Funds raised will go towards supporting the event and its growth. The more we can raise, the larger the event can be. This includes the public celebration dinner and entertainment at the finish. It also includes the tshirts and supplies to support the march that we are unable to get donated. We are trying to keep the cost to Veterans and others who walk to little or nothing. Any remaining funds will be saved for seed money for next year's event. Our goal for 2019 is $3,000. 

New in 2019 - We are a non profit!

 Memorial Day March For Them is a Minnesota nonprofit corporation whose federal 501(c)(3) tax exempt status application is pending.  If the IRS approves the application, all donations made to MDMFT after

May 5, 2019 will be tax deductible. 

Thank you to our 2019 Sponsors! 

Do you want to support this? Thank you! 

Just download details here and you can pay via PayPal online here:               

FYI Memorial Day March For Them is a Minnesota nonprofit corporation whose federal 501(c)3 tax exempt status application is pending.  If the IRS approves the application, all donations made to MDMFT after May 5, 2019 will be tax deductible.       

Major Level

(500+)

Captain Level

(200+)

Lieutenant

Level

(100+)