Towns all across the Capital Region will be holding Memorial Day services, parades, and activities over the upcoming long week. We've put together a map so you can easily find out what's going on nearest you.

Did you know that Memorial Day only became an official national holiday in 1971? Even though we now look at Memorial Day weekend as the unofficial start of summer, up until 1971 the holiday was not nationally recognized! Memorial Day was originally known as 'Decoration Day' as a day of remembrance after the Civil War.

That's why it's a day of mixed emotions for me. It has a very somber origin and we still take the "Memorial" in Memorial Day seriously, but at the same time, it also has me looking forward to summer and, of course, a cookout with friends and family.

We have no shortage of history here in the Capital Region and towns and cities all over our area are observing Memorial Day with parades, events, services, cookouts, festivals and everything in between.

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