For a lot of us, Memorial Day is a time for hot dogs and cookouts and expectations of the upcoming summer.
For those of us with loved ones in the military, it often holds a different sentiment.
Memorial Day a time to honor the men and women who died to serve this country so that we can know the freedoms we have today.
Originally known as Declaration Day, Memorial Day actually began in the years following the Civil War and was recognized as a federal holiday in 1971, according to history.com.
All of us at News Talk 103.7FM extend a sincere appreciation and gratitude for our troops, soldiers, veterans and all who served this country with honor and valor and gave the ultimate sacrifice for us.
We hope you enjoy the holiday with friends and family this weekend and take a few moments to remember and honor the brave men and women who served the United States of America.
Some of the Memorial Day celebrations near you include:
Monday, May 30
The Funkstown American Legion will hold its traditional double wreath-laying ceremony starting at 11 a.m. at the legion’s flagpole, 12 N. Westside Ave. Then everyone heads a few blocks down Baltimore Street to the doughboy statue at the corner of Frederick Road for a second wreath-laying ceremony.
The Smithsburg Park Commission will hold a ceremony at 2 p.m. by the war memorial in Veterans Park.
Martin “Marty” L. Snook Memorial Park in Halfway will have a Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. at the war memorial sponsored by the Joint Veterans Council of Washington County.
Antietam National Battlefield will hold a Memorial Day program at 11 a.m. at the park’s National Cemetery along Shepherdstown Pike (Md. 34) just east of Sharpsburg Pike (Md. 65).
The Gettysburg Joint Veterans Memorial Day Commission will hold a Memorial Day parade at 2 p.m. beginning at Lefever Street and ending at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. The Memorial Day Ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. at the Rostrum in the Soldiers’ National Cemetery.
A Memorial Day service will be held in the Square after the parade in downtown Carlisle at about 9:45 a.m.
The Memorial Day Parade in downtown Chambersburg will begin at 9:15 a.m. and is sponsored by the 21-Day Retreat Organization. The events are being organized by American Legion Post 46. The parade route starts at 5th and Lincoln Way East and will end at Memorial Square where a ceremony will be held.
The Combined Veterans Council of Waynesboro is hosting a Memorial Day parade at 9 a.m. that begins at Turkey Hill, continued down Main Street to Memorial Park where a service will be held usually around 11 a.m.
The Harry D. Zeigler Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6319 is hosting a Memorial Day parade starting at 10:30 a.m. by the Lillian S. Besore Memorial Library in Greencastle.
Shippensburg will hold their annual Memorial Day Ceremonies and Parade beginning at 10am at Locust Grove Cemetery, followed by services at Spring Hill Cemetery at 11:15am and flag-raising ceremony at Shippensburg Veterans Memorial Park at 12pm. At 1:15pm the Navy & Marine Memorial Services will be conducted at Branch Bridge on King Street. The parade will begin at 2pm from the corner of King and Prince Streets. Inclement Weather: Each unit returns to the post involved for refreshments and a time of fellowship.
The Joint Veterans Council of Shippensburg will hold Memorial Day Ceremonies and Parade at 2 PM, to honor our fallen heroes. The Parade begins at the corner of King and Prince streets and marches down King Street toward Morris Street.
The Harry Lackhove American Legion Post 517 is hosting a Memorial Day parade at 8:30 a.m. in Mercersburg. The parade starts on Park Street and ends at Fairview Cemetery where the ceremony will be held.
The Martinsburg (WV) Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 896 is hosting a free luncheon for the community at its 241 N. Queen St. post around noon. There will be a Memorial Day service during the luncheon.
To pay tribute to the veterans of Berkeley County, the Martinsburg Rotary will hold its annual Memorial Day pancake breakfast from 8-10:30 a.m. Monday at the main pavilion at War Memorial Park. Proceeds will benefit charitable organizations.
