Holidays

Memorial Day – A Time for Remembrance and Kicking Off Summer

04-29-2019

Ah, Memorial Day – the unofficial start to summer. Although Summer Solstice isn’t until late June, most Americans consider Memorial Day Weekend the beginning of summer. It’s three days filled with parties and BBQs, but it’s important not to lose sight of the real reason we celebrate. It’s a time to remember and honor the men and women who died serving in the U.S. military. 

History

Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday in 1971. It was originally called Decoration Day and started after the Civil War. It was intended to honor fallen Civil War soldiers, but after World War I, it became a holiday to commemorate heroes from all U.S. wars. Today, it’s a way for communities to gather and collectively remember those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Many towns across the country host parades and ceremonies to pay homage to our fallen heroes. 

Community Care Ambulance (CCA) joins with fellow Ohioans and all Americans in celebrating our county and military this upcoming Memorial Day. CCA serves communities of northeastern Ohio through emergency and non-emergency healthcare services. We are also proud to work alongside the military during disaster deployments.

Here we’ve gathered information about Memorial Day events in Northeastern Ohio and a few tips for staying safe! 

Memorial Day Events 

Parades are one of the most attended public events during Memorial Day weekend. Big cities and small towns alike host parades filled with floats, firetrucks, military vehicles and veterans. Parades appeal to people of all ages and it’s a tradition for many families. 

Downtown Ashtabula hosts a Memorial Day Parade. Anyone can participate and they encourage cars, trucks, wagons and bicycles to use a lot of red, white, blue and yellow patriotic decorations. Cuyahoga Falls, Bedford and other towns in Northeastern Ohio host parades, too. Check your community calendars for details. 

In addition to parades, ceremonies at cemeteries and war monuments take place across the country. Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland hosts a unique ceremony with honor guard and costumed re-enactors portraying President and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, General U. S. Grant and the widow Lucretia Garfield.

The Akron RubberDucks baseball team battles the Richmond Flying Squirrels in games Friday, Saturday and Sunday with fireworks and ceremonies to honor the military. 

Safety Precautions

For most people, Memorial Day weekend is spent outdoors, so be sure to lather up with sunscreen if you’ll be outside for any amount of time. Most experts recommend broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.  

If you’re spending time around a swimming pool, pay close attention to any children in your care. It only takes a moment for a child to fall into a pool. 

Firework injuries are common around the holidays. Take extreme caution and light them away from flammable material including grass. Plus, keep a hose or bucket of water close by. 

About CCA

Founded in 1994, CCA is now one of the largest medical transportation organizations in northeast Ohio. We are a non-profit 501c3 serving Cleveland, Akron and surrounding cities. If you have any questions, please call us at 833-698-5684. 

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