It’s the unofficial kickoff of summer: Memorial Day. Observed on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971…
It’s the unofficial kickoff of summer: Memorial Day.
Observed on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day became an official federal holiday in 1971 as a day to honor those who have sacrificed their lives serving the U. S. military. History.com says it was originally called Decoration Day and originated in the years after the American Civil War.
Across metro Detroit, many events will pay tribute to America’s fallen heroes.
But plenty of others will spend the long weekend doing things like barbecuing, enjoying the outdoors or spending time with family and friends.
Here’s what to know about the upcoming weekend:
Keep your umbrellas handy Saturday, when showers and a possible thunderstorm are likely after 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in White Lake. It will be warm, with a high near 81 and winds gusting to 23 mph.
More storms are possible on Sunday after 2 p.m, the weather service said, with a high near 76 degrees.
On Monday, it will be mostly sunny with a high near 74. A chance of thunderstorms returns Monday night into Tuesday.
According to gasbuddy.com, the average price for a gallon of regular self-serve fuel in the Detroit area is $2.88, down 23 cents from the same time a year earlier.
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Begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Veteran’s Park Memorial Plaza at the corner of 5 Mile and Farmington roads.
A tribute to veterans, including military salutes, a wreath-laying ceremony, special guests and music are scheduled.
Call 734-466-2418 or visit www.ci.livonia.mi.us.
Kick off at 10 a.m. Monday
According to the city of Dearborn, the 95th annual Memorial Day Parade will take place along Michigan Avenue, starting at Maple Street, and then move west to the Henry Ford Centennial Library at 16301 Michigan Ave.
More than 60 marching groups, plus hundreds of veterans and flyovers will be featured, the city said on its website.
The city has also announced that this year’s parade theme is Gold Star families, with Gold Star father Daniel Robinson as grand marshal. According to the city, two World War II and Vietnam-era veterans will also be honored with a funeral procession at 9:40 a.
