A windy, overcast day greeted a large group of Salinans Monday for Memorial Day ceremonies.

A brief service was held at the VFW Cemetery at Gypsum Hill, followed by a similar service at the American Legion Cemetery at Roselawn. Activities culminated with a gathering at the Saline County War Memorial in Sunset Park.

Army Lt. Colonel Richard Fisher spoke. He gave a short a history of Memorial Day, which origins date back to the late 1800s when volunteers would place flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate Civil War Soldiers. He said that many people have forgotten the real meaning of memorial day, which is a day to honored those in the military who have died in the line of duty. Fisher said “it shouldn’t be a day of mourning, but of reverent celebration”. He added that Memorial Day shouldn’t be confused with Veteran’s Day. which is a day to honor all members, living and dead, in the U.S. Military.

The Memorial Day ceremony ended with a moment of silence, a 21 gun salute, and the playing of taps.