Memorial Day weekend is the traditional start of summer but its primary purpose is not to kick off the great tradition of summer vacations but remembering those who paid the ultimate sacrifice during times of war.

Ceres will be remembering those sacrifices during a Memorial Day celebration at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29 at the Ceres Memorial Park, 1801 E. Whitmore Avenue, Ceres.

The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony, which will be held on the lawn near the front of the cemetery. The service will include the singing of the National Anthem, guest speakers, a rifle salute, playing of taps, a bagpiper presentation, and the placing poppies on the wreath of remembrance.

The ceremony is being hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post 10293 in Ceres. Also participating are members of the Ceres Post 491 of the American Legion.

Memorial Day activity in Ceres starts at 7 a.m. Monday with the posting of American flags to line the road paths in the cemetery as the “Avenue of Flags.” The flags will be removed starting at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Memorial Day is a federal holiday for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. The holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, was formerly known as Decoration Day and originated after the Civil War to commemorate the soldiers who died in the war. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who died while in the military service.