Each year the Fargo-Moorhead-Dilworth-West Fargo Metro Area designates the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, as Homeless Memorial Day. This day is declared by the FM Coalition and through joint proclamation of the four area mayors.

This is a local observance of a national day of honor and remembrance serves to raise awareness of those who don’t have a place to call home, and to remember those lives shortened by the experience of homelessness.

The day is observed by a six block memorial walk through downtown Fargo processing an empty coffin decorated by memorial art designed by shelter guest over the years. The procession ends at a church for a memorial service that includes remembrances, native drumming and song, and multifaith prayers and readings.

HONOR & REMEMBER

The FM Coalition maintains an “honor & remember” list of those members of our community known and countless unknown to have died while homeless or whose lives are known to be shortened from experiencing homelessness in the Fargo-Moorhead Metro since 1999.

314 person are represented on that list as of 12/14/2021.

A framed poster sized version of the list hangs in the Coalition office and is available for loan to be displayed by Coalition partners and can be requested by contacting the executive director.