Each year on Memorial Day, Americans pay honor to all of those who have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. In recognition of the holiday’s rich history, the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs (ODVA) has published a list of Memorial Day events and celebrations that are occurring throughout the state. The most current list of statewide event locations and information are available online: www.oregondva.com/blog/2014/05/01/2014-memorial-day-events. Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was originally called, was first observed on May 30, 1868 as a day to place flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The holiday’s name was later changed to Memorial Day. In 1971 it became a federal holiday to be observed on the last Monday in May. As part of these observances the ODVA will host a ceremony on Monday, May 26, at 3 p.m., on the department’s grounds in Salem, 700 Summer St. N.E. The public ceremony will honor two fallen Oregon U.S. Army soldiers, Specialist John A. Pelham of Beaverton, and Private First Class Cody J. Patterson from Philomath. Both soldiers died while serving in Afghanistan; Patterson on Oct. 6, 2013 and Pelham on Feb. 12, 2014. These soldier’s names will be added to the Afghan-Iraqi Freedom Memorial where the names of 139 other Oregon men and women, who have given their lives while serving our nation, are inscribed. All names on the memorial will be read during the ceremony. Cities and communities who are hosting Memorial Day events and would like their information listed can email details to: odvapublicinformation@odva.state.or.us.
