The Good Life – March-April 2024

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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
to rest at the cemetery, and each time, Nicklay ensured they were sent off surrounded by their new family of veterans. Living The Good Life So, what does a good life look like to Nicklay? “Well, my toes are still pointing straight ahead,” he said with a half-smile and a sparkle in his eye. It’s more than that, though. “Throughout the Guard years, and with ROTC, and even now, without my family’s support, including my wife, LaVonne, and daughters, Sandy and Janice, I couldn’t do it.” He tries “to make the best of what happens,” too. “If you think you’ve got it tough, look around. You’ll see you really ain’t got it so damn tough.” • “IF YOU THINK YOU’VE GOT IT TOUGH, LOOK AROUND. YOU’LL SEE YOU REALLY AIN’T GOT IT SO DAMN TOUGH.” - MARVIN NICKLAY PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: MARVIN NICKLAY urbantoadmedia.com | 35
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Page 4 and 5: CONTENTS MARCH-APRIL 2024 VOLUME 11
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The Good Life – March-April 2024

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