Memorial Day

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has announced that eight people lost their lives in traffic accidents over the Memorial Day weekend, up from six fatalities in 2013.

Two events in Hannibal will honor our military and those who sacrificed for their country.

In watching, listening or reading the news this past weekend I would have thought it was November 11th instead of Memorial Day. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service.

The Quincy Exchange Club just concluded the annual Gus Macker Basketball tournament for the 23rd consecutive year. That’s right, 23 straight years this city has reaped the rewards of having thousands of people come to the downtown area during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Some events taking place in Hannibal this Memorial Day recognize the true meaning of the holiday.

Saturday evening, the public is invited to attend the 5th annual Memorial Lantern Float. This event is a ceremonial release of lanterns into the Mississippi from Nipper Park as symbols of the universal hope for peace, open to all regardless of religion or background.

This is welcome news for people planning to drive in Illinois over the Memorial Day weekend. The Illinois Department of Transportation says non-emergency roadwork will be suspended to ease congestion. The suspension of work begins this afternoon and will last through Monday.

Most beaches at Missouri state parks will be open for the Memorial Day weekend. The day-use beach at Harry S. Truman State Park will be closed after a test showed high bacteria. And the beach at Lake Wappapello State Park will be closed because of flooding.

Kurt Parsons Memorial Day in Quincy / Hannibal – What’s Open and What’s Closed? Memorial Day is May 28th. On this day we remember the sacrifice of those that have given their lives in defense of our country. This holiday has also come to mark the “unofficial start of summer...