Whether you still call it Decoration Day or you know it as Memorial Day, the federal holiday will be observed on Monday, May 28.
Memorial Day carries more significance than just a day off from work or being considered the unofficial start of summer. It's a day to remember those who gave all for their country.
Memorial Day is the day set aside to pay tribute to personnel who died while serving in the military. It's not to be confused with Veterans Day, the federal holiday in November that honors all personnel who have served in the military.
Following are memorial services, special movie screenings, firework salutes and National Park Service programs taking place around the region in honor of the day.
PREPARING FOR MEMORIAL DAY
More than 2,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, troop leaders and parents will come together on Saturday, May 26, to place U.S. flags on graves in Chattanooga National Cemetery.
Before Scouts spread out to place flags, they will gather for a ceremony at 8 a.m. at the Armed Forces Pavilion. The Choo-Choo Chorus will sing the national anthem to open the ceremony, and the Chattanooga Area Veterans Council Color Guard will close it with a 21-gun salute.
MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES
-The National Cemetery Administration is hosting Memorial Day ceremonies at national cemeteries across the country, and the Chattanooga National Cemetery is among them.
A Memorial Day service will be held at Chattanooga National Cemetery, 1200 Bailey Ave., on Monday at 2 p.m.
-The East Ridge Memorial Day ceremony will be held at Pioneer Frontier Park beside East Ridge City Hall on Monday at 1 p.m.
American Legion Post 95 in East Ridge organizes this event in partnership with city personnel and Crestwood Garden Club. Cmdr. Larry Palmer will emcee.
During the ceremony, the Lester Norton Award for Patriotism will be presented to an East Ridge citizen for displaying patriotism.
MOVIE SALUTES MARINES
-What: "We, The Marines"
-Where: Tennessee Aquarium Imax 3D Theatre, 201 Chestnut St.
-When: 2 and 5 p.m. Friday-Monday, May 25-28
-Admission: $11.95 adults, $9.95 children; Aquarium/Imax combo tickets $37.95 adults, $26.95 children
-For more information: www.tnaqua.org
Just for Memorial Day weekend, the new Imax film "We, The Marines" will be shown twice daily from Friday through Monday.
The movie takes viewers on an action-packed adventure into the experience of becoming and serving as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.
Narrated by Gene Hackman, Academy Award-winning actor and former Marine, the film uses the giant screen to honor the dedication, service and firsthand experiences of Marines.
"This film needed to have a documentary-newsreel kind of immediacy, an unstaged, unpolished, raw approach - like the Marines themselves," says the film's director, Greg MacGillivray.
"The result is less a set-up Hollywood-style film with carefully laid-out and rehearsed shots and more a spontaneous, immediate, organic film that comes from real-life experience," he describes.
Audiences will see grueling feats of strength and endurance in boot camp that prepare Marines for the stresses of life on the front lines. They'll witness mountain training, parachute jumping, rappelling from helicopters and how K-9 units train side by side with Marines.
FIREWORKS FINALES
Two sports teams will cap their weekend games with fireworks finales.
-Chattanooga Football Club takes on the New Orleans Jesters Saturday, May 26, at 7:30 p.m. in Finley Stadium. Tickets are $10.
CFC General Manager Sean McDaniel says in celebration of the CFC's 10th season and Memorial Day weekend, fireworks will fill the sky immediately following the match.
-The Chattanooga Lookouts began five-game home stand against the Montgomery Biscuits on May 23. Games Thursday, May 24, through Saturday, May 26 are at 7:15 p.m. The game will start at 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, May 27.
Special promotions include the Jon Rodriguez "Walkoff" Bobblehead giveaway on Saturday night, when the first 1,000 fans through the gates at AT&T Field will receive the bobblehead.
The first 1,000 fans to Sunday night's game will receive a Lookouts logo baseball. Stick around after the game for a postgame fireworks show.
VISIT A BATTLEFIELD
The staff of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is offering several events in recognition of Memorial Day.
Some will take place at Chickamauga Battlefield, 3370 LaFayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Others are scheduled at Point Park on Point Park Road on Lookout Mountain. Join one to learn more about local history while enjoying each park's scenic beauty.
All programs at Chickamauga Battlefield are free. Admission to Point Park is $7 for ages 16 and over, free for ages 15 and younger. There is no admission fee at Cravens House on Lookout Mountain.
For more information about any of these programs: 706-866-9241.
-What: Artillery Programs and Walking Tours
-When: Saturday, May 26
At Chickamauga Battlefield, artillery programs will be conducted at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. at the Visitor Center. There will also be ranger-guided car caravan tours of the battlefield at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
At Point Park, ranger-guided walking tours are scheduled for 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m. Living history presentations will take place at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
A ranger will also lead guided tours of the historic Cravens House on Lookout Mountain from 1 to 5 p.m.
-What: "Medal of Honor Recipients in the Battle of Chickamauga"
-When: 2 p.m. Sunday, May 27
Meet at Chickamauga Battlefield's Visitor Center for a 90-minute car caravan tour focusing on the nine men who fought along the banks of Chickamauga Creek in September 1863 and became Medal of Honor recipients. What did each of them do that was considered above the call of duty?
Living history programs will also take place at the battlefield on Sunday at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
-What: Walking Tours at Point Park
-When: Sunday, May 27
Ranger-guided walking tours of Point Park are scheduled for 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m.
Living history presentations will take place at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
-What: Ranger-guided tours
-When: Monday, May 28
Ranger-guided car caravan tours of Chickamauga Battlefield will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
At Point Park, ranger-guided walking tours are scheduled for 11 a.m., 2 and 4 p.m. Living history presentations will take place at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Compiled by staff writer Susan Pierce