As we head into the first three-day weekend of the upcoming summer season, it's good to remember why Memorial Day is observed. In 1868, it was known as Decoration Day, a day to decorate the graves of Civil War soldiers. Now it commemorates American war dead through the generations. Take some time from the picnics and attend with your family one of many ceremonies being held in our communities on Monday that are included in this column.

World War II veteran Jim Shepperd is among my favorite people and this story is worth the re-telling. Jim has wonderful stories of his family growing up here and his interesting adventures. Many of the stories are actually true. I thought I knew most of Jim's stories but I learned one last year that is both touching and humorous. Typical Jim. A special part of the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Third Street docks for nearly six decades has been the laying of the wreath in the water to honor those in the military who were lost at sea.

Jim's cousin John was lost in 1945 on a submarine in the Mariana Straights, so it's a very personal gesture for Jim each year. I've seen the lovely wreaths he's placed on the waters of Lake Coeur d'Alene but had no idea that they're such a labor of love. Jim awakens at dawn on Memorial Day and creates the wreaths from lilacs, cherry blossoms and other bright flowers from his neighborhood. He weaves the small branches and stems together so there will be no wire or pieces of metal to litter the lake bottom. When I said it was wonderful that his neighbors contribute to the effort Jim deadpanned, "They don't know they do."

Now that I've outed him, I hope the neighbors pay no mind to this esteemed member of The Greatest Generation as he goes about the gathering of the beautiful blossoms at daybreak on Memorial Day.

I wish I had the names of every veteran volunteer from the VFWs, American Legions and Marine Corps League, Submarine Veterans, etc. who without fail organize and facilitate the ceremonies that honor our service members, to thank them personally. These citizens are passionate about remembering their fellow veterans and reminding all of us to do the same. Beyond Memorial Day and Veterans Day these citizens volunteer to provide the rituals each veteran deserves upon their passing ... color guard, rifle guard, bugler and the respectful folding and presentation of the flag.

On Monday at 9 a.m. Coeur d'Alene Veterans of Foreign Wars 889 will hold the wreath ceremony at Independence Point this year due to construction at the Third Street docks. At 10 a.m. the VFW will preside over a ceremony at St. Thomas cemetery on East Sherman Avenue and at 11 a.m. at Forest Cemetery near the Civil War statue. Also at 11 a.m. Post Falls American Legion Post 143 holds a ceremony at Evergreen Cemetery and the City of Hayden's Memorial Day ceremony is at their City Hall. At 2 p.m. the Marine Corps League's program and ceremony will take place at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens on north Government Way.

Coeur d'Alene American Legion Post 14 will be offering coffee and doughnuts at the westbound I-90 Huetter rest area during Memorial Day Weekend. Travelers heading west can get a cup of coffee, a doughnut and some friendly conversation each day from 6 a.m. to dark Saturday through Wednesday, May 29.

I know that the Pappy Boyington Detachment of the Marine Corps League has its red coffee wagon at the eastbound Huetter rest area in the summer months. In my travels between Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene I try to make it a point to stop at both a time or two to say hello to the veterans and thank them for being such great representatives for Idaho hospitality!

Feeling the love for everyone in the path of the tornados in Oklahoma. Jay Troy, CHS Class of 1970, has lived in the Oklahoma City area for years and sadly his home was one of those destroyed on Sunday. Grateful to report that Jay and his family are safe, as are my sister-in-law and her husband in Yukon.

Happy birthday today to Michelle Fehling Purcell, Fred Glisson, Ken Keast, Helen McFarland, Tasha Seath and Jonathan Larson. Tomorrow Denise Durflinger, Margie McGaughey, Theresa Williams, Susan Ballinger, Joel Riner, April Needham, Steve Vick, Cathyanne Nonini, Elaine Pandolfi and Marlo Faulkner will be celebrating another trip around the sun. On Friday wish a happy birthday to Cliff Hayes, Richard Wilson, John McHugh, Shirley Galloway, Adam DeLuca, Amy Moffat, Ruth Ware and Michelle Pfennigs. May 25 is a special day for Lori Moreland, Dick Haugen, Meghann Cuniff, Kasey Short, Debbi Long, Brad Cederblom, Sara Houser and Charolette Carstensen. On Sunday Jessica Lenz, Dorothy Montgomery and Rob Brickett will blow out the candles. Kenny Gabriel turns 50 on Memorial Day, sharing a birthdate with Nancy Herold, Joe Gilliland and Greg Gilliland. And on Tuesday Shirley Wandrocke, Scott Shellman, Ryan Shuck, John Caylor, Melissa Feusier, Judy Padilla and Tom Lewis can have their cake and eat it, too!

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer for 2013 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. Find Kerri on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com.