Memorial Day weekend.  Time to relax.   Whether you’re headed to the beach, the next town over (for the Alabama Jubilee, like Bronwen talked about yesterday), or hanging out at the recently opened community pool, Memorial Day weekend was made for relaxing.

Right?  Well, sort of.  It’s nice that we celebrate Memorial Day on a Monday, giving us worker-bee’s a three day weekend.  But, let’s get back to that later.

Memorial Day around town:

Memorial Day- a federal holiday to honor all men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  Have you stopped lately and thought about their sacrifice?  If not, head over to the new Veteran’s Memorial Park in Downtown Huntsville.  It is impressive.  First, it’s really pretty.  Second, it will amaze you how lost you can feel in the center of the city.  The sound from the water can be deafening.  Then… read the words and think about the men and women whose names are on those walls from our own hometown.  Our neighbors and our friends.

Huntsville’s Memorial Day Service
May, 28th
Maple Hill Cemetery- Veteran’s Section
11:00- please be in place by 10:30

Now, realizing that Huntsville is a military town, it just wouldn’t be right not to have a Memorial Day Service.  With comments by Huntsville’s Mayor Battle and the Redstone Arsenal Commander, placing wreaths on the graves of veterans, rifle salute, and raising the flag to full staff at noon, this will be a great time to reflect.  Did you know that Maple Hill Cemetery has a veteran’s section?  You do now.  And, if you want to go to the Huntsville Memorial Day Service, you are encouraged to be there by 10:30 on Memorial Day.  Bring a lawn chair, they are encouraged as well.

Raising the Flag

Did you notice what I said?  I said raising the flag to full staff at noon.  Did you know that this is tradition on Memorial Day?  For those who don’t know the details, I went to my favorite resource (Wikipedia) for some clarification.

---

“On Memorial Day the flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.

The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all.”

---

 

I love that second part!  And that is why I’m going to move on to talk about Armed Forces Week.  We have so many people, right here in our community, continuing that fight every day.  Armed Forces Week is June 11-17.  How fantastic that we celebrate it soon after raising of the flag to full staff!

Celebrating our men and women

There are so many great events around Armed Forces Week, so I am only going to pick a couple to highlight.  (Want to know more?  Search “Armed Forces Week” in our Event Calendar.)

The Art’s Council’s Concerts in the Park
June 11 at 6:30
Big Spring Park
Each year during Armed Forces Week, The Arts Council’s puts on an amazing concert celebration.  If you haven’t ever been to one of these free, outdoor concerts, this is the perfect opportunity to go.  This year’s concert includes two groups from Redstone Arsenal’s Army Materiel Command Bands: the Four Star Jazz Orchestra and AMC Concert Band. Also, Mayor Battle will present a community covenant to Redstone Arsenal during and the evening will end with a downtown fireworks display.

The Wounded Warrior Softball Games
June 15 at 5 & 7 and June 16 at 7
Metro Kiwanis Sportsplex
The Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team is ready to show Redstone-Huntsville and North Alabama that LIFE WITHOUT A LIMB IS LIMITLESS!  This softball team is made up of young men who sustained severe injuries resulting in amputation while serving in the military and/ or war.  I can’t wait to watch them whip up on some of our local softball teams!

That three day weekend thing

I started this post out talking about relaxing on Memorial Day and the nice three day weekend.  Memorial Day was originally held every year on May 30th, but was moved to the last Monday in May when Congress passed the Uniform Holiday’s Bill in the late 60’s.  However, there are organizations out there (VFW) that feel that “Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed a lot to the general public’s nonchalant observance of Memorial Day.”  What is your opinion about this?  Are you going to remember the ultimate sacrifice so many made for your freedom?  And, how will you “raise the flag” and not let our Armed Forces sacrifices be in vain?