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.

At 9 a.m., Coeur d'Alene Veterans of Foreign Wars 889 will hold the veterans bell and wreath ceremony in the veterans area of the new McEuen Park. Post Falls American Legion Post 143 will conduct ceremonies at Evergreen Cemetery at 10 a.m. Also at that time, 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.

The City of Hayden's Memorial Day ceremony is at its City Hall at 11 a.m. The City of Rathdrum hosts ceremonies at Pinegrove Cemetery at 1 p.m. 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.

Marge Chadderdon's nine grandchildren are all Vandals, in a good way. Grandma Marge was there to see the final three, Annie Chadderdon, Dani Olsen and Jordan Anderson, graduate from the University of Idaho on Saturday.

Also present were the five grandchildren who previously graduated with bachelor's degrees from the U of I: Jennifer Olsen, Douglas Anderson, Charlie Chadderdon, Michelle Olsen and Erica Olsen. Making it a full house in Moscow was Margo Anderson, who graduated from University of Washington but earned her law degree from U of I. That's quite a legacy!

At the Syttende Mai celebration in Post Falls on Saturday, we had the pleasure of Norwegian exchange student Emilie Solberg's company at breakfast. Emilie is a delight and soon to graduate from Coeur d'Alene High School. As we noshed on lefsa, fruit and cheese, I asked Emilie if she actually liked lutefisk, which is dried cod that has been soaked in lye for several days before being boiled or baked. It's a traditional delicacy that even three decades as a Norwegian by marriage has not made its way into my mouth. I can't get past the gelatinous texture.

But my new friend Emilie claims to love lutefisk. She said it was the last dish her mother made for her before she left for America and will be her first home-cooked meal when she returns to Norway next month.

Also on Saturday, an old friend since junior high in Coeur d'Alene, Ina Byfuglien Bressler, was performing Norwegian songs with her son, Jarin, and daughter, Solina: aka the Bressler Trio. After the flag-raising at Falls Park, Bert and I visited with the Bresslers and Ina's mother, Ingeborg Byfuglien, a Norwegian immigrant.

The topic of birthdays came up and Ina mentioned her mother was having a "big" birthday in August. I asked Mrs. Byfuglien which birthday she'd celebrate and she replied, "94." Ina said, "No mom, you're 94 now and will turn 95 in August." To which her mother laughed and said, "Uffda!"

Saturday night is the 26th Post Falls Distinguished Young Women program at Post Falls High School. Fifteen incredible young women will vie for scholarships. Former Idaho Jr. Miss and Miss Idaho - and Post Falls' own - the incredible Tracey Brown Fouche is directing the program.

Nicholas Gribbin of Post Falls will appear on The Price is Right today (on CBS/KREM). While scouting colleges in California, he secured tickets to the show. We'll just have to watch to see if he got the call to "come on down" and if he won any fabulous prizes.

A sign of spring in our corner of the world is taking place on Lake Coeur d'Alene: docks by the dozens being towed back to their summer homes.

To all who voted and to all who put their names on the ballot, thank you.

Happy Birthday today to Jessica Bauman, Ruth Fullwiler, Jessica Capaul, Dick Epstein, KV Nelson, Pam Freeman and Carter Hamby.

Tomorrow, Kalil Barkie, Michelle Fehling Purcell, Fred Glisson, Ken Keast, Helen McFarland, Tasha Seath and Jonathan Larson put on their party hats.

On Friday, 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 Saturday, wish a happy birthday to Richard Wilson, John McHugh, Shirley Galloway, Adam DeLuca, Amy Moffat, Ruth Ware and Michelle Pfennigs.

Sunday is a special day for Lori Moreland, Dick Haugen, Kasey Short, Debbi Long, Brad Cederblom, Sara Houser and Char Carstensen.

On Memorial Day, Jessica Lenz, Dorothy Montgomery and Rob Brickett will blow out the candles.

Tuesday, Kenny Gabriel, Nancy Herold, Joe Gilliland and Greg Gilliland will 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 and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter #kerrithoreson.