Salem-News.com Holiday articles Page 21

Reminder on Oregon Fireworks Laws

Under Oregon law, officials may seize illegal fireworks and offenders may be fined up to $500 per violation or possibly arrested.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - The Office of State Fire Marshal, Oregon fire service, natural resource agencies, Oregon fireworks wholesalers and safety experts are reminding Oregonians to keep it legal and keep it safe when using fireworks this 4th of July.

Oregon law bans possession, use or sale of fireworks that fly, explode or travel more than six feet on the ground or 12 inches into the air.

Oregon Fireworks Sales Season Opens Today

Oregon law bans possession, use or sale of fireworks that fly, explode or travel more than six feet on the ground or 12 inches into the air.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - The Office of State Fire Marshal, Oregon fire service, natural resource agencies, Oregon fireworks wholesalers and safety experts encourage Oregonians to keep it legal and keep it safe when using fireworks.

Under Oregon law, officials may seize illegal fireworks and offenders may be fined up to $500 per violation or possibly arrested.

OMSI Hosts Memorial Day Ceremony Honoring Veterans

Portland Fireboats to Perform Water Spray Salute.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - OMSI will be holding its annual Memorial Day ceremony to commemorate those who served on the USS Blueback and other local veterans on Monday, May 28th at 1:00 PM in the courtyard behind OMSI. The event is open and free to the public.

The Memorial Day ceremony will include bagpipers and a color guard, tolling of the bells for lost boats, placing of the wreath, and retirement of the colors. The grand finale will be a water spray salute by a Portland fireboat. Members of the U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc. and the U.S. Submarine Veterans of W.W. II will attend. Navy in-shore patrol boat unit 13 will also be on display.

Memorial Day F-15 Oregon Flyovers Announced

The Oregon Air National Guard has been an integral part of the nation's air defense since 1941.

(PORTLAND, Ore. ) - The Oregon Air National Guard will salute America's fallen heroes and veterans with flyovers for various ceremonies at locations throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington on Memorial Day.

Two F-15 Eagle jet fighters from the 142nd Fighter Wing will depart the Portland Air Base.

All passes will be approximately 1,000 feet above ground level and 350 knots airspeed.

Governor Orders Flags at Half-Staff in Honor of Memorial Day

88 Oregon service members have died while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and the War in Iraq.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski ordered all flags at public institutions be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon on Monday, in memory of all Oregonians who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

“This Memorial Day gives us a chance to reflect on the Oregonians who are currently serving our country overseas,” said Governor Kulongoski.

The protocol for displaying the flag at half staff on Memorial Day is to raise the flag in the morning briskly to the top of the flag pole, then slowly lower it to the mid-way point of the pole.

Memorial Day Patriot Guard Motorcycle Rally

Motorcycle rally points include Bend, Lincoln City, Oregon City, Salem, Silverton, Springfield, and Tualatin.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - In partnership with the Patriot Guard Riders motorcycle group, riders from various areas of the state are invited to participate in a Memorial Day rally on May 28th.

Memorial Day Events Scheduled Around Oregon

Originally known as Decoration Day, the holiday was later changed to Memorial Day and became a federal holiday in 1977 observed on the last Monday in May.

(SALEM, Ore. ) - Each year on Memorial Day, Americans pay honor to all of those who have died while serving in the U. S. Armed Forces.

Memorial Day originated in 1868, when Union General John A. Logan designated a day in which graves of Civil War soldiers would be decorated.

In recognition of this rich history, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs is announcing the Memorial Day celebrations occurring throughout the state of which the Department has been made aware.

Ceremony to be Held at Afghan-Iraqi War Memorial in Salem

It begins at 1:00 PM with Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Jim Willis serving as Master of Ceremonies.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Memorial Day marks the day set aside to remember our nation's fallen men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. Across America, flags will be flown at half-staff in honor to these national heroes.

A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Afghan-Iraqi Freedom Memorial, located on the grounds of the Oregon Veterans' Building at 700 Summer Street N.E., to pay tribute to all of Oregon's fallen servicemembers. The Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Afghan-Iraqi Freedom Memorial in Salem.

The Day of Our Mothers

In 1915 Mother’s Day became an official holiday. The second Sunday in May became the day we pay homage to the one that gave birth to us.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Recently, while preparing to move to another apartment, I came across a letter I had written to my mother in May 1991 while living in Fairbanks, Alaska. She resided in Mill City, Oregon, with my stepfather. While re-reading this letter, I realized just how tenuous life is and that even mothers are not around forever, as mine succumbed to cancer on January 8th, 1998. There is not a day goes by that I don’t think about her and at times start to reach for the phone to call and talk with her.

I want to share my letter with you as I think that it could apply to almost any mother, especially those who have been faced with many life difficulties and challenges.

Caution Seeded in Sprucing up Historic Cemetery Markers

A monument should only be cleaned once every four to six years.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Cleaning a cemetery monument for Memorial Day? The Oregon Commission on Historic Cemeteries is offering some tips on how to do more good than harm.

Seeing monuments covered in vines and moss or caked on dirt prompt people to venture out before Memorial Day to spiffy up grave markers with the best intentions, said Kuri Gill, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department's (OPRD) historic cemeteries program coordinator. "The way they complete their cleaning, though, can diminish their efforts," she added.