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Memorial Day Observance Planned
05/22/09 - 07:53 AM
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Pineville, LA – Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans (VA) facilities throughout the country will observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, with ceremonies recognizing service members who have given their lives for their country.

At the National Cemetery in Pineville, flags will be placed on the graves at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 24, in preparation for Monday’s program. Anyone wishing to participate in this activity should be at the Cemetery promptly at 1:00pm.

On Monday, May 25, the Memorial Day Program at the National Cemetery will begin at 11:45 a.m. with a musical prelude. After the flag raising at noon, the program will continue with speakers, placing of wreaths by various veteran service organizations, a rifle salute and taps. Guest speaker for the 2009 observance will be Barbara C. Watkins, medical center director of the Alexandria VA Medical Center.  In the event of bad weather, the ceremony will be held at the Alexandria VA Medical Center’s Chapel.

In addition to the formal ceremonies planned across the nation, all Americans are asked to participate in a National Moment of Remembrance by pausing wherever they are at 3:00 pm on Monday, May 25, and taking a moment to remember and honor those men and women who died in service to our country.

Congress established this National Moment of Remembrance to put the “memorial” back in Memorial Day and to reclaim its original purpose of honoring America’s fallen heroes.

The time was chosen because mid-afternoon is when many Americans are enjoying the freedoms ensured by those who fought to preserve them. The one-minute pause in activities at 3:00 pm local time is not intended to replace Memorial Day ceremonies, but to highlight the purpose of Memorial Day and to reflect on the sacrifice of those who died for our freedom.

For more information on Memorial Day activities at the National Cemetery in Pineville, call the Alexandria VA Medical Center, Voluntary Services, at (318) 473-0010, extension 2540.