Lincoln's Memorial Day Observance  Lincoln Journal May 18, 2006 On Monday, May 29, Lincoln will conduct its annual Memorial Day Observance, to honor its veterans and to remember those who sacrificed their lives serving our country. At 10 a.m., Lincoln's American Legion (Post 84) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (Post 5239) will gather at Bemis Hall and lead a march down the hill to the Lincoln Public Library. Other veterans and civilians of all ages are invited to join the march. At the Library, Girl Scouts will lay the Memorial Wreath. A firearms salute will be delivered and taps will be sounded. The Rev. Noah Evans of St. Anne's in-the-Fields Episcopal Church will offer an invocation. The National Anthem will be sung by Lincoln resident Ali Mandelkorn. Veterans will be introduced and acknowledged. Col. Thomas J. Schluckebier, Vice Commander, 66th Air Base Wing, Hanscom Air Force Base will give the keynote speech. Following the speech, there will be patriotic music, and refreshments will be served. The firearm salute that is part of the Memorial Day observance evolved from the old custom of halting the fighting to remove the dead and wounded from the battlefield. Once each army had cleared its dead, it would fire three volleys, to indicate that the dead had been cared for and that the army was ready to resume the fight. The three round volley has evolved into a salute to honor the deceased for their service to their country. In the event of rain, the observance will take place inside the library. This event is organized by the Lincoln Celebration Committee. (Archives)