BOISE, Idaho — Memorial Day is a time to honor those men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
There will be numerous ceremonies around the Treasure Valley this weekend. Here is a list of some of them.
**The biggest one is at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. It will be held Monday, May 27, at 10 a.m. The Idaho Division of Veterans Services invites the public to attend this ceremony to remember all who died serving in the defense of our nation, as well as those who served and are still serving in our armed forces.
This year's ceremony will include a wreath presentation by multiple veteran and civic organizations, aircraft flyover, support and participation by the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Air Force. Speakers will include representatives from the governor's office and elected officials.
Public parking will be at Optimist Park located at the intersection of Hill and Horseshoe Bend roads. Shuttle buses are provided.
The Idaho State Veterans Cemetery is located at 10100 Horseshoe Bend Road in Boise.The ceremony starts promptly at 10 a.m. and runs for an hour.
**The Idaho Civil War Volunteers will conduct their annual Civil War flag-raising ceremony, eulogy, and gun salute at noon in Silent Camp at the Veterans Monument in Morris Hill Cemetery, located at 317 N. Latah Street.
The ceremony will be repeated at 1:30 p.m. in the Fort Boise Military Reserve Cemetery at 1101 Mountain Cove Road. The ceremony pays tribute to fallen soldiers and recognizes the significance of Memorial Day.
**The City of Nampa plans a Memorial Day ceremony at Kohlerlawn Cemetery, located at 76 6th Street North. It kicks of at 10 a.m. and runs for about one hour. Retired Lt. Col. Bobby Sanchez will be the keynote speaker. Parking is available. Call (208) 468-5797 for more information.
**Meridian will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday at the Rock of Honor Memorial in Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park, located at 1900 N. Records Avenue. The memorial honors fallen military members from Meridian.
There is limited seating. Guests are encouraged to bring a folding chair.
**Flags will stand proudly at the Eagle Field of Honor in Merrill Park starting May 18, Armed Forces Day and will be on display until May 27, Memorial Day. The park is located at 637 E. Shore Drive in Eagle.
** The Idaho Warhawk Museum will be open Memorial Day from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission will be $5 all weekend. On Memorial Day, from 10 –11:30 a.m. there will be a special flyover to pay tribute to the fallen. The museum is located at 201 Municipal Drive by the Nampa Airport.
Organizers say on their website that this is an opportunity to publicly voice our gratitude to the military that has so bravely protected our freedoms. We are able to recognize the individuals that each flag represents. With the help of sponsors, we are able to present this family-friendly event to the public for free.
Also, cemeteries maintained by the City of Boise will be open to visitors through Monday.
Boise Parks and Recreation maintains three cemeteries:
Pioneer Cemetery - located at 460 E. Warm Springs Avenue - is the oldest cemetery in continuous use in the city.
Military Reserve Cemetery - located at 1101 Mountain Cove Road - is a historic site that is kept in its natural state, similar to how it looked at the turn of the century.
Morris Hill Cemetery - located at 317 N. Latah - is one of the oldest and most well-known cemeteries in the Treasure Valley. Staff will be on hand to assist family members and visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, (Memorial Day).
Visitors are welcome to place artificial flowers, flags, fresh flowers, and wreaths graveside at city cemeteries. No glass or breakable containers are allowed.
If you have information about a Memorial Day service in our area and would like to be included on this list, please email us at ktvbnews@ktvb.com.