The Good Life – March-April 2024

LOCAL HERO | MARVIN NICKLAY
full-time, which he had been doing all the while he
was serving and volunteering. Being in his mid-70s,
one would think it was time to fully enjoy some R&R
while cherishing the memories of his more than 50
years of volunteer service to the military.
You know that’s not where this story ends, of course.
Throughout the years, Nicklay had been providing
funeral honors, starting in Barnesville in 1963 and
continuing with the American Legion after moving
to Moorhead the following year. In 1997, he joined
the United Patriotic Bodies, which is comprised
of volunteers from local veteran organizations, to
provide funeral honors. The efforts stepped up after
the Fargo National Cemetery was dedicated in 2019.
Like all things in life, Nicklay went all in. He’s lost
count of how many times he has provided funeral
honors, but he keeps a log and knows the exact
count of how many have been laid to rest at the Fargo
National Cemetery: 902 as of the end of 2023, 145
of whom were veterans’ spouses. He’s paid honors
to most. He does more than just the actual funeral
honors, though. He works directly with the funeral
homes, and he alerts the team on times and dates.
When the cemetery was able to hire a manager, he
continued to coordinate and help while she got a feel
for the job responsibilities.
Even more so than his other volunteer work, this
one is deeply personal – especially when it comes to
veterans who die without family.
Nicklay chokes up talking about the first unclaimed
veteran to be buried at the Fargo National Cemetery.
“He’s gonna have a family,” he insisted with watery
eyes when he was told there wouldn’t be anybody
there.
Through veterans’ efforts, about 200 people came
to pay respects to that first unclaimed veteran. The
Legion Riders provided an escort from the funeral
home to the cemetery along with more than a dozen
classic car enthusiasts from the Valley Vintage Car
Club.
“From everywhere,” he said. “They were willing to
come.”
And they did.
“The TV station was there. Radio was there. We had
cars lined up at least a quarter mile back if not farther.”
They all showed up to respect a veteran they never
knew.
Ten more unclaimed veterans have since been laid
34 | THE GOOD LIFE