Like many people, I celebrate Memorial Day weekend as the official beginning of summer. For most of us, this a full weekend of camping, outings to the lake, motor racing and barbecues.
However, a busy schedule of relaxation and recreation can cause us to overlook the real reason for the holiday. Even if you have no personal connection to veterans living or deceased, I recommend taking the time for a Memorial Day service. You may pay tribute to those who died for our country during any one of a number of services in the region, and you’ll be glad you did. Here are some opportunities:
• 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 28, at Burney Cemetery on Mountain View Road, one block east of Main Street, Burney. (directions)
• 10 a.m., Sunday, May 29, at the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden, on Highway 97 13 miles north of Weed. (directions)
• 10 a.m., Monday, May 30, at Lawncrest Memorial Park, 1522 East Cypress Avenue, Redding. (directions)
• 10:30 a.m., Monday at Oak Hill Cemetery, 725 Cemetery Lane, south of Walnut Street, Red Bluff. (directions)
• 11 a.m., Monday at Veterans Memorial Grove, in front of the Redding Convention Center, Redding. (directions)
• 11 a.m., Monday at Anderson Cemetery, 2500 Cemetery Lane, off Bruce Street, Anderson. (directions)
• Noon, Monday at Redding Memorial Park, 1201 Continental Street, Redding. (directions)
• 5:55 p.m., Monday at Northern California Veterans Cemetery, 11800 Gas Point Road, Igo. (directions)
In addition, Congress has designated 3 p.m. local time on Monday as the National Moment of Remembrance. All Americans are asked to pause their holiday parties and activities for a minute to “remember those who gave their lives to protect the values that give meaning to our lives.”
View Northstate Memorial Day Service locations in a larger map.
Today’s À La Carte menu:
• Racing away … In many places, Memorial Day weekend is loaded with auto racing. That’s not true here, for reasons I don’t quite understand. Both Shasta Raceway Park and Redding Dragstrip will be dark this weekend. However, you may take in California Sprint Car Civil War racing as part of the Silver Dollar Fair on Sunday, May 29. Your $8 fair ticket includes admission to the races, which is a great deal. The fair itself runs from May 26 through 30.
• Gambling with fireworks … All right, it’s not really gambling. Rather, I’m talking about a fundraiser for the Anderson Explodes fireworks show on July 3. Still, you could raise $10,000 for yourself if you possess the winning raffle ticket. Tickets cost $100 apiece and are limited to 300. If you’re not willing to risk a Benjamin, you could just buy a $7 ticket for the Anderson Explodes barbecue at 6 p.m. this Friday, May 27, at the Shasta District Fairgrounds. For tickets of any denomination, contact the Chamber of Commerce at (530) 365-8095.
• Wandering Whiskeytown … National Park Service rangers will be leading kayak tours at Whiskeytown Lake during the long weekend, May 28 through 30. They’ll also guide hikers to Brandy Creek Falls and Whiskeytown Falls. The kayak tours, which include use of a kayak, and the hikes are free, but you must make a reservation in advance. Do so by calling Whiskeytown National Recreation Area at (530) 242-3462.
• Cruising Burney … The Mountain Cruisers car club’s Rex Club Days show is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, May 28, at Angelina’s, in the former Rex Club building on Main Street in downtown Burney. In addition to shiny cars, the event promises music, food, prizes and tall tales about the infamous Rex Club.
Paul Shigley is senior editor of California Planning & Development Report, a frequent contributor to Planning magazine and co-author of Guide to California Planning, a reference book and college text. He lives in Centerville. Paul Shigley may be reached at pauls.anewscafe@gmail.com.
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