weekend planner May 28 - 31

Memorial Day observances are May 31

A former Hastings resident, Col Jeffrey McDougall, will be the Hastings Memorial Day speaker Monday, May 31.

The observances begin at 9 a.m. at the Minnesota Veterans Home Hastings, with a flag ceremony, followed by a 10 a.m. program at Roadside Park. About 20 minutes after the Roadside Park program, short ceremonies will be held at Soldiers and Sailors Cemetery on West First Street and at the Levee Veterans Memorial along the Mississippi River.

At the Roadside Park ceremony, Gordon Gathright will sing the national anthem; the Rev. Paris Pasch will offer the invocation; and Mayor Paul Hicks will give the welcome. James Holmes will be the master of ceremonies.

The VFW Voice of Democracy essay finalist Cody McNary and the Patriot Pen essay contests winner Dylan Lynch will present their readings. The American Legion Boys State representative Daniel Green will be recognized.

A special display of the Minuteman statue; a Commander’s coin presented by the National Guard Company C, 834th Aviation Support Battalion; and the American flag flown over its headquarters in Iraq, is in place at City Hall and can be viewed during business hours the week after May 31.

All Memorial Day observances are open to the community. Lawn chairs are recommended for the Roadside Park program.

In case of bad weather, the events will be held at 10 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church.

‘Beyond Yellow Ribbon’ featured at St. Mary’s-Basswood

The featured speaker at the Memorial Saturday observance at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church-Basswood Grove will feature Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Morris who is a co-creator of “Beyond the Yellow Ribbon,” a program to reintegrate National Guard members into society after a tour of duty.

A Morning Prayer Service will take place at 10 a.m. May 29, followed by a ceremony in the adjacent cemetery.

The community is invited. The church is just south of Afton Alps, at 8435 S. St. Croix Trail.

For more information, call Bob Livingston at 612-875-0330.

Car shows begin downtown Saturday

The first of Cruise-In car shows this summer will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, May 29, on Second Street and some of the side streets in the downtown area.

The schedule for this year is as follows (after this Saturday): June 12 and 26, July 10 and 24, Aug. 7 and 21, Sept. 4 and 18, and Oct. 2.

Girls Night is a pajama party at YMCA

YMCA Girls Night Pajama Party for second- through fifth-grade girls will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, May 28. The cost is $5 ($3 for members).

For more information, call 480-8887.

Tags: lifestyle