Two Memorial Day ceremonies will be held over the holiday weekend to honor the contributions and sacrifices of veterans.
The first will be hosted Saturday at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery by local American Legion groups.
Members of the Brown-Mabry Unit 153 and American Legion auxiliary will place flags on veterans' graves, followed by a ceremony at 10 a.m.
The event will include speakers from Post 153, with a keynote address by Dick Murray, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
A second event will be held Monday at the Veterans' Memorial Wall in front of the Black River Coliseum.
The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. with a welcome by retired U.S. Navy commander John Holland of VFW Post 6477.
A keynote address will be given by Nathaniel Balentine Jr., who retired from the U.S. Army Reserves, following comments by John J. Pershing VA Medical Center Director Patricia Hall, a retired colonel from the U.S. Army.
Wayne Summers, father of fallen Poplar Bluff Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Summers, will take the flag to half staff after the keynote remarks.
The nation also will mark a Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. Memorial Day, said Angela Smith, VA public affairs officer.
Created by the U.S. Congress in 2000, Americans are encouraged to pause for a minute of silence at this time to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation, according to Smith.