Although it’s what many people on the Kenai Peninsula associate
it with, Memorial Day weekend isn’t just about fishing and
barbecues. It’s a time to remember those who have died in battle
for this country. Originally called Decoration Day, the holiday
was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the
sacrifices of Civil War soldiers by proclamation of General John
A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of
former sailors and soldiers. In 1966, the federal government,
under the direction of President Lyndon Johnson, declared
Waterloo, N.Y., the official birthplace of Memorial Day. They
chose Waterloo — which had first celebrated the day on May 5,
1866 — because the town made Memorial Day an annual,
communitywide event, during which businesses closed and
residents decorated the graves of soldiers with flowers and
flags. Today, Memorial Day is celebrated at Arlington National
Cemetery with a ceremony in which a small American flag is
placed on each grave. Also, it is customary for