Victory Memorial Drive Rededication happening June 11
Celebrate the 90th anniversary of Victory Memorial Drive on June 11 with live music, exhibits of war artifacts and machinery, a scavenger hunt for kids, a rededication program, and more!
Activities will be centered at the flagpole plaza, located at the intersection of Victory Memorial Drive and 45th Avenue North. The June 11 rededication program is being held in conjunction with Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund’s Say Thanks Day 5K Run/2-mile Walk.
June 11 Schedule:
- 8 a.m. Say Thanks Day registration opens
- 9 – 9:10 a.m. Say Thanks Day 5K Run/2-mile Walk begins
- 10 a.m. Say Thanks Day program featuring vintage military plane flyover, presentation of cash grants to Minnesota service members, and music.
- 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Numerous exhibits of war artifacts and machinery, historical reenactments, a children’s scavenger hunt, and more.
- 11 a.m. Victory Memorial Drive Rededication program featuring a 21-gun salute, laying of wreaths for each branch of service, and live music.
Event attendees are encouraged to use public transportation or bikes to get to the event. A free, downloadable bus pass can be printed off from online. A large audience is anticipated for these events, which will result in parking and traffic disruptions in the neighborhood; for more information, visit www.victorymemorialdrive.com.
The Victory Memorial Drive Rededication is being sponsored by Target, Mortenson Construction, TCF Bank, and Periscope.
Victory Memorial Drive is a historic landmark located on the border of Minneapolis and Robbinsdale, Minn. As part of the Grand Rounds, Victory Memorial Drive stretches 3.8 miles. It extends along Theodore Wirth Parkway from Lowry Avenue North to 45th Avenue North, and east to Humboldt Avenue North and the entrance to Webber Park.
Originally dedicated in 1921 to honor the 568 men and women of Hennepin County who died in World War I, Victory Memorial Drive has been renovated with the addition of new lighting, benches at the flagpole plaza, and expanded sidewalks and flowering spaces. Green space along the drive has also been expanded, making the walking and biking paths more continuous and accessible.
Victory Memorial Drive Task Force members include:
- Commissioner Mike Opat, Co-Chair, Hennepin County
- Commissioner Mark Stenglein, Co-Chair, Hennepin County
- Commissioner Jon Olson, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board
- Councilmember Dan Rogan, Robbinsdale
- Council President Barb Johnson, Minneapolis
- Senator Linda Higgins, Minnesota Senate
- Senator Ann Rest, Minnesota Senate
- Rep. Lyndon Carlson, Minnesota House
- Rep. Joe Mullery, Minnesota House
- Mr. Steve Fiscus, Veteran Representative
- Ms. Pat Schon, Veteran Representative
- Mr. Patrick Burns, Citizen Representative
- Mr. Bob Zagaros, Citizen Representative
- Nina Archabal, Minnesota Historical Society
Project partners include:
- Hennepin County
- Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board
- State of Minnesota
- City of Minneapolis
- City of Robbinsdale
- Hennepin History Museum
Published Jun. 9, 2011