ELKINS — Area residents have the opportunity to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice when the H.W. Daniels American Legion Post 29 hosts its annual Memorial Day Celebration Monday at the All-Veterans Memorial on Railroad Avenue.

“Memorial Day is honoring all the service members or veterans who have passed since we’ve become a country,” said John Miller, H.W. Daniels American Legion First Vice Commander. “It’s for those service members, military members, and their families for the sacrifices they’ve made. History can’t be forgotten and the people who served their county and gave their life for this country need to be remembered.

The event will get underway at 11 a.m. and will feature Disabled American Veterans of West Virginia Senior Vice Commander Gary Ice as the guest speaker. City of Elkins Mayor Jerry will also address those in attendance.

The Highland Adventist School Choir will also be on hand to sing the National Anthem and America the Beautiful and the West Virginia Highlanders, who were founded by the H.W. Daniels American Legion in 1947, will perform during the event.

The event will also feature the laying of wreaths and other tributes throughout the ceremony. Monday’s celebrations will cap off the traditional three-day holiday and mark the unofficial start of summer.

People need to understand what sacrifices were made in order for us to have our freedom.”

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May each year and became an official federal holiday in 1971. It was created as a day to remember and honor the men and women who have been killed in U.S. wars throughout history.

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and began during the American Civil War when citizens placed flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle. Members of the H.W Daniels American Legion will be placing American Flags on the graves of veterans today at the Little Arlington Cemetery in Cravensdale.

The H.W Daniels American Legion has also scheduled a flag retirement ceremony to be held on June 14.