Detroit Lakes Couple Carry on Memorial Day Traditions Wherever They Go

“The Colonel” Tom Mortenson and his wife Pam, local Women’s Relief Corps member. honored those who died for our country at two cemeteries in Tampa Florida before returning to Minnesota. Placing wreaths at memorials, and American Flags on Veteran graves the couple wanted to ensure that those in smaller cemeteries in the Tampa Bay area were also remembered.

Starting at a “black cemetery” that dates back to the segregation-era and was established in 1919 and abandoned in 2019 the Mortenson placed American Flags and a wreath at the “The Florida Negro World-War Veterans Memorial” dedicated 1923.

According to Tom Mortenson, this cemetery became the final resting place for over 500 black veterans, while other estimates place the number as over 900. Speaking at the site, Mortenson went on to say, "People today forget that” black soldiers could not be buried anywhere there's white soldiers” in the South.

The next cemetery held special meaning for Pam Mortenson and the Women’s Relief Corps (an auxiliary to the Union Veteran organization – the Grand Army of the Republic”) who have a memorial at Tampa’s Woodlawn cemetery. Pam placed two American flags and a memorial wreath at the Monument in honor of the twenty-one Union soldiers buried there. Together the couple placed U.S. flags on each of the Union gravesites, including the wife of one of the Union members buried there.

Pam speaking at the WRC Memorial site, reflected that “The WRC, uses Memorial Day to teach patriotism and nationalism to children of all ages. To this day, members of the Woman's Relief Corps with the assistance of children make wreaths and place them alongside American Flags at the graves of Union veterans and nurses who died during and since the Civil War” Pam said.
The Mortenson’s are known for their efforts to honor veterans and are the Detroit Lakes/Becker County/White Earth local coordinators of the Wreathes Across America each December in Detroit Lakes.

“The Colonel” Tom Mortenson was in the military for over 39 years and Pam has won numerous awards for her work in support of our troops, including the Shield of Sparta Award.