Memorial Day 2022 In Pinellas County: Events Planned

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — Not to be confused with Veterans Day, a federal holiday that takes place Nov. 11 to honor all military veterans in the United States Armed Forces, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of summer.

City Of Largo

Largo will celebrate the day on May 30 with live music and the presentation of the colors by the city of Largo Fire and Police Department Honor Guard at 9 a.m. at Largo Central Park, 101 Central Park Drive.

Largo Police Officer Robert Farias will serve as keynote speaker for the ceremony.

For information, call 727-587-6740, ext. 5014.

Curlew Hills Memory Garden

Curlew Hills Memory Gardens, 1750 Curlew Road, Palm Harbor, will host its 34th annual Memorial Day Service Monday starting at 9:30 a.m.

The service will feature a presentation of the colors, the singing of the national anthem by retired U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Sonya Bryson-Kirksey, who has routinely sung the national anthem at Tampa Bay Lightning games, and music by Palm Harbor United Methodist Church choir. Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Jerry Custin will serve as master of ceremonies for this service.

The speaker will be Jess Loban, who served in the United States Air Force as a member of AMOG Expeditionary Mobility Task Force and as a fire direction and military police soldier in the Army.

Loban then returned to Colorado to serve as the operations manager for the Air Operations Center Weapon System Integrator program, managing the configuration and operations of all F22 AOCs with SAIC for the U.S. Air Force.

After leaving SAIC, Loban served as the configuration manager of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System and was selected as project lead for microgravity on the International Space Station’s team for the Combustion Integral Rack and the Fluids Integral Rack for NASA at Glenn Research Center.

Loban is the founder and CEO of Spartan Corp, and has assembled a diverse team of veterans who have come together to combine their skills and experience to include space, cybersecurity, human and drug trafficking interdiction and advanced technologies.

More than 300 people are expected to attend so a large LED screen will be placed above the stage, so all guests can adequately view the event.

Refreshments will follow the free event.

Contact Curlew Hills at 727-789-2000.

Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance

The Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance will host its annual Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 30, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Florida Veterans Memorial Plaza at Crest Lake Park, 201 S. Glenwood Ave., Clearwater.

The event will be a somber salute to the nation's veterans and will include speeches and appearances by elected officials and guest speakers, including Gary King, motivational speaker and author of "The Happiness Experiment: The Ultimate Life Makeover."

After an illustrious career of professional powerboat racing, manning motorsports events and working security jobs, King decided to scatter over 250 street signs labeled "HAPPINESS" throughout St. Petersburg as part of an experiment to spread joy and make the world a happier place.

Since then, he has been dedicated to sharing his life lessons and personal experiences with others.

The Tampa Bay Veterans Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to honoring veterans past, present and future through education, assistance and appreciation. Its mission is to promote American patriotism in the Tampa Bay area and to provide residents with opportunities to show appreciation and support for veterans and active-duty personnel in the United States military. For more information, call 727-240-5358 or email m.norton@tampabayveteransalliance.org.

James Museum

The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, 150 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, will honor veterans, active military, Gold Star and Blue Star families with free admission from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Monday.

Memorial Day Ceremony And Dinner

VFW Post 2550, 360 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, will host a ceremony to remember and honor those who have died serving the country Monday at 2 p.m. followed by a pulled pork dinner with music by DJ Chris and Alice. Bring a dish to share. There is no cover charge.

Caddy's In Treasure Island

Caddy's on the Beach, 9000 W Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island, will honor and remember those who served with live music by Damien Ward on Monday at 1 p.m. and the Spazmatics at 3 p.m. Monday.

There will also be face painting and balloon animals at 1 p.m. Monday, and camo T-shirt sales throughout the event to benefit Honor Flight. There is no cover charge.

Caddy's Madeira Beach

Caddy's Madeira Beach, 14080 Gulf Blvd., Madeira Beach will remember and honor America's fallen with live music with Logan Grant at 4 p.m. Monday.

Orange County Choppers Roadhouse

The OCC Road House & Museum, 10575 49th St. N, Pinellas Park, and Full Throttle motorcycle magazine will continue it's four-day Memorial Day celebration Monday with live performances by Scream Machine at 4 p.m.

The Full Throttle Motorcycle Expo on Monday will include cash giveaways, games, contests, vendors (open at 11 a.m.) and a bike show featuring a collection of one-of-a-kind motorcycles.

In addition to five hourly $100 cash giveaways, there will be a full lineup of contests with hundreds more in cash prizes, including a double elimination corn hole tournament Monday with a big cash prize. Practice begins at 6:30 p.m. and the first official throw is at 7:30 p.m. The social division entry is $5 per person and the competition division is $10 per person.

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Postcard Inn

Postcard Inn, 6300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach will host a Memorial Day weekend celebration with the Music Bureau featuring guitarist Stephano Aviles and DJs JT Radio, Lira, Matt Dodge and Skeelow from noon to 9 p.m. Monday.

Memorial Day Skate

Dress in red, white and blue for open skating until 5 p.m. and free hot dogs from 1 to 2 p.m. on Memorial Day at Astro Skate Pinellas Park, 10001 66th St. N.

The cost is $7 with skate rental additional.

Memorial Day Block Party

Toasted Monkey Beach Bar and Sports Grill, 6100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, will host a giant outdoor party with drinks, food and music by 22N Monday at 2 p.m. There is no cover charge.

Memorial Day Beach Clean Up

Meet Keep Pinellas Beautiful at the Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce kiosk in front of the Gulf Coast Laundry, 119 107th Ave., Treasure Island, to collect your cleaning supplies, swag, parking pass and directions to help clean the beach.

Once there, go to the Treasure Island Adopt-a-Beach Facebook page and post a selfie of yourself picking up trash Monday from 6 to 8:0 p.m.

Memorial Day Sandbar Party

Boaters, set your guidance system to 27.786686 Latitude and -82.773264 Longitude and join the floating party on the Johns Pass sandbar off Madeira Beach, 12801 Gulf Blvd., at noon Monday. The event is free.