A member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment places flags at the headstones of service members buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday afternoon in Arlington, Va., ahead of Memorial Day. The Associated Press

Communities across the region are planning parades and services to commemorate Memorial Day, the last Monday in May set aside to honor U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Saturday, May 24

— Lakemont Lions Club will conduct its annual memorial service at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 24, at the Lakemont Veterans Monument. Doug Reighard, USAF, Retired, is the featured speaker. Reighard serves as the commander of American Legion Post 551 in St. Michael and adjutant of the South Fork Memorial VFW 7524. His Air Force career included extensive background in field/combat medical service.

There will be a flag raising and wreath presentation.

The monument is at the junction of Lake and Shand avenues in the Lakemont section of Altoona. Those attending should bring lawn chairs for seating. This year marks the 82nd anniversary of the monument’s construction.

— Van Zandt VA Medical Center will host a Memorial Day ceremony and Gold Star Families Memorial Plaque dedication at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 24, at The Wall that Heals, 2907 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona. This is the first time in many years that the medical center has hosted their own Memorial Day event.

The medical center has partnered with the Blair County Garden Club to dedicate a National Garden Clubs Federation Gold Star Families Memorial Plaque. The Blair County Garden Club raised all the funding for this memorial and donated it as a homage to veterans and their families. This is the first plaque in Blair County and the second in the state.

— St. Augustine Church, 803 St. Augustine Road, Patton, will host a Veterans Mass at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 24. All veterans, families and community members are welcome.

Sunday, May 25

— Memorial services will be conducted by the Claysburg American Legion on Sunday, May 25, according to the following schedule: 1:15 p.m., Sproul; 1:35 p.m., King; 2:05 p.m., Imler; 2:25 p.m., Greenfield; 2:50 p.m., Lower Claar; 3:10 p.m., Upper Claar; 3:45 p.m., Mt. Hope.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 26

Altoona

— The Memorial Day parade, hosted by the Blair County War Veterans Council, will be held downtown on Monday, May 26. Lineup begins at 10 a.m. at the parking lots by Steven’s Funeral Home. The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. from Eighth Avenue and 17th Street, proceed over the 17th Street Veterans Memorial Bridge, to 12th Avenue, 12th Street, 11th Avenue and 15th Street.

A service will be held at the Robert E. Laws Veterans Mall, 11th Avenue and 14th Street.

— A Memorial Day parade will also take place in the downtown Juniata section of Altoona at 9:30 a.m. The parade route follows North Fourth Avenue and North Eighth Street to North Fifth Street, North Six Avenue, North Second Street, North 11th Avenue to Broadway, to the Brubaker Ballfield.

Services will be held at the Juniata VFW, North Second Street and North 16th Avenue.

— The Catholic War Vets will sponsor a parade at 8:40 a.m. The route is 13th Street/Crawford Avenue to Fourth Avenue, 14th Street, to St. Mary’s Church to 15th Street, Second Avenue to 12th Street to St. Mary’s Cemetery.

— Calvary Cemetery, 2417 Pleasant Valley Blvd., Altoona, will hold its annual Memorial Day Field Mass at 11 a.m. Monday, May 26.

Bellwood

— Bellwood will hold its Memorial Day parade at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 26, followed by a service at Logan Valley Cemetery on Stadium Drive. The parade lineup will be at Houser’s Subs. The parade will cross the bridge, travel down Main Street and past the school to the cemetery.

Bedford

— Bedford’s Memorial Day parade will be held at 10:15 a.m. Monday, May 26, downtown. A ceremony will be held in front of the courthouse. Portions of Juliana Street, between Penn Street and Vondersmith Avenue, will be closed from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the events.

Claysburg

— The 91st annual Memorial Day program will be held at 10 a.m. May 26 at Claysburg Union Cemetery. In case of inclement weather, the service will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 206 Walnut St., Claysburg.

Duncansville

— A memorial service will be held at 8:45 a.m. at Carson Valley Church of the Brethren, 122 Church Road, Duncansville, conducted by the Duncansville Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Post 8724. The Blair County Veterans Honor Guard will perform graveyard memorial ceremonies at 9:45 a.m. at Foot of Ten Bible Church, 450 Foot of Ten Road, Duncansville; 10:15 a.m., Newry Lutheran and St. Patricks, Allegheny & Henderson, Newry; 10:30 a.m., St. Patrick’s Church, 704 Patrick Lane, Newry; 10:45 a.m., Leamersville Church of the Brethren, 89 Country Lane, Duncansville; 11:15 a.m., Vicksburg Grace Brethren Church, Brookes Mills, Hollidaysburg; 11:30 a.m., Franciscan Monastery, Kladder Station, Hollidaysburg.

Ebensburg

— Ebensburg’s annual Memorial Day parade will take place at 10 a.m. A service will be held in Veteran’s Memorial Park in downtown Ebensburg at 10:30 a.m.

Nearly 20 local organizations and groups have registered to participate in the parade, including military service men and women, Scouting troops, sports teams, the Central Cambria Marching Band and classic vehicle owners.

All participants will assemble for check-in and lineup at the Ebensburg Public Library on Highland Avenue between 9 and 9:45 a.m.

The annual parade and Memorial Day ceremony are sponsored by the Ebensburg Main Street Partnership, in partnership with VFW Post 4963, American Legion Post 363 and Dauntless Fire Company.

In the case of inclement weather, the parade will not be held and the ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. inside at Ebensburg Presbyterian Church, 200 North Center St.

Hollidaysburg

— The Hollidaysburg American Legion Post 516 will host its annual Memorial Day parade and ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 26. The parade will feature the Hollidaysburg Area High School’s Golden Tiger Marching Band, fire trucks and more. The ceremony’s keynote speaker is Blair County Commissioner and Air Force veteran Dave Kessling. The theme of the ceremony is “Remembering the Fallen & Gold Star Mothers/Families on Memorial Day.”

The Post will be honoring U.S. Army Corporal Maurice Yingling, who gave his life serving in WWII. The Daughters of the American Revolution will kick off the event with a brief remembrance ceremony at the Allegheny Street Bridge over the Juniata River. The parade route is Allegheny Street, Union Street, Walnut Street and N. Montgomery Street. The ceremony will be held at the Diamond.

Patton

— The Patton Memorial Day parade will be held at 9 a.m. Local groups including Scouts, church groups and sports teams are welcome to take part. Patton Fire Company No. 1, along with police, EMS and the Cambria Heights Highlander Marching Band, will join hometown veterans and families for the parade.

A memorial service will be held immediately after the parade at the Patton Park Memorial.

Pavia

— A Memorial Day parade will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, May 26, in Pavia. A service will be held at Mount Zion Reformed Church in Pavia after the parade.

Roaring Spring

— The annual Memorial Day parade in Roaring Spring will begin at 9 a.m. Monday, May 26, at the Garver YMCA and move toward Greenlawn Cemetery. A program will be held at the cemetery with speaker Phillip Waite, a Navy Seabee veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Sinking Valley

— Bugler Chad Pederson, as part of Taps Across America, will play Taps at 3 p.m. Monday, March 26, at the Arch Springs Cemetery, next to Sinking Valley Presbyterian Church. Immediately following, Pederson will go to St. John’s Church Cemetery, where he will also play Taps.

Tyrone

— Tyrone’s annual Memorial Day parade will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m. Line-up begins at 9:30 a.m. at the American Legion.

The parade will begin and end at the Legion, where, at 11 a.m., a ceremony will take place at Soldiers Park, 14th Street and Lincoln Avenue.

Hornerstown/Johnstown

— Jeff Pounding, retired colonel, U.S. Army Special Forces, will be the featured speaker at the 10 a.m. Memorial Day ceremony at the Sandyvale Memorial Gardens, 80 Hickory St., Hornerstown/Johnstown. Veterans of all conflicts will be honored and the service will pay tribute to the 160th anniversary of the end of the Civil War and the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. There will be a special pinning ceremony for all attending veterans.

The Marine Corp League Honor Guard will lead a parade into the site with bagpiper Timothy Gatehouse. A wreath presentation will also be made.

From 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will be an antique and classic car and motorcycle cruise, with food vendors, music and more.