Area groups plan Memorial Day events

By JULIANNE WU

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 26, 2001

On Monday, Americans will honor the men and women who died fighting for the United States in wartime.

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was established in 1868 to honor military personnel who died in the Civil War (1861-1865). In 1971, it was made a federal holiday and now includes Americans who died in all wars and conflicts. It is observed the last Monday in May and is a legal holiday in most states.

Some planned Memorial Day observances on Monday include:

VA NATIONAL CEMETERY AT BAY PINES: 9 a.m. at the cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd. in Seminole. U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Largo, and Thomas H. Weaver, director of the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines, will speak. St. Petersburg Postmaster Thomas Pawlowski will unveil the new 34-cent "Honoring Veterans" stamp. A framed copy of the stamp will be given to Alfred Pugh, 106, a World War I veteran who resides at the VA nursing unit at Bay Pines. Pugh worked as a postal worker in Maine for 32 years. Call 398-6661 for information.

CURLEW HILLS MEMORIAL GARDENS: 10 a.m. at the gardens, 1750 Curlew Road in Palm Harbor. The Fleet Reserve Association, Branch 109, will sponsor the 13th annual Memorial Day program. Lt. John H. Dalton, USN, protocol officer for the U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa will talk. More than 150 participants from Dunedin, Clearwater, Palm Harbor and Tarpon Springs American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans organizations are expected. Call Thomas Montgomery at 442-5230.

CITY OF BELLEAIR BEACH: 11 a.m. to noon at city hall, 444 Causeway Blvd. From 4:30 p.m. to sunset, the Property Owners Association will hold an informal gathering and dedication at Morgan Drive Park. A barbecue grill will be provided, along with paper plates, condiments and a cash bar. Residents should bring their own meat, a covered dish to serve four, utensils and lawn chairs. 595-4646.

CALVARY CATHOLIC CEMETERY: 10 a.m. at the cemetery, 11801 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater. Bishop Robert N. Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg will celebrate Mass. Should the weather sour, Mass will be 10:15 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 8001 46th St. N, Pinellas Park. 572-4355.

GARDEN SANCTUARY CEMETERY AND FUNERAL HOME: 1 p.m. at the cemetery, 7950 131st St. N, Seminole (just north of Park Boulevard). Michael Coningham, chief of voluntary service at the VA Medical Center, will speak. Seminole Mayor Dottie Reeder and state Sen. Don Sullivan, R-Largo, will be guests. 391-0121.

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