Rainy Memorial Day Weekend

Monday (May 29th) is Memorial Day.  It had its beginning in 1868 when it was known as  Decoration Day and honored those who died while fighting in the Civil War. Buring World War I, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars.

For decades, Memorial Day cwas observed on May 30th, the date selected for the first Decoration Day; but in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May beginning in 1971.

Many confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day.  Memorial Day is intended to remember and honor those who gave their lives serving in the US military. Veterans Day (observed on November 11th) honors all veterans.

Members of American Legion post 30 spent last weekend and much of this week putting flags on the graves of veterans. That task was completed on Thursday.  On Monday, the American Legion will host a short program and wreath-laying ceremony at the veterans memorials on the east Courtsquare. They will also use the occasion to honor the police officer, sheriff's deputy and firefighter of the year.  The forecast is calling for rain, heavy at times, Saturday night and Sunday with a chance of showers on Monday.  If it's raining at noon, the event will be moved indoors to the American Legion building on N. Aspen Street.

On Sunday evening (May 28th) at 5 PM, the VFW will hold its Memorial Day program.  That ceremony normally ends with the lighting of luminaries in the shape of a cross on the VFW lawn. If it's raining, the program will be moved inside the VFW building upstairs.  A lighted cross will be displayed on the porch.

In observance of the holiday, government offices including city, county and state facilities, will be closed on Monday.