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Memorial Day Weekend in Portsmouth NH 2011

It’s just a few days until Memorial Day weekend and the official start of summer vacation. First and foremost we need to remember that Memorial Day was created and exists to honor all the Americans who died in war.

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The first ‘Memorial Day’ was declared by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan on May 5, 1868. It was called “Decoration Day” then and was a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Civil War dead with flowers on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

At the end of the 19th century Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30th all around the nation. Many state legislatures passed proclamations designating that day as a day of remembrance for the Civil War dead.

Shortly after World War I the holiday was expanded to honor all those who had died in all American wars. Congress in 1971 officially declared Memorial Day a national holiday and made the official date the last Monday in May of each year.

To further honor America’s fallen, Congress passed a bill called “The National Moment of Remembrance Act” to encourage all Americans to pause wherever they might be at 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of those who died serving their country.

Memorial Day weekend also brings lots of very cool events to all areas of the country and the New Hampshire Seacoast is no exception.

Saturday, May 28th, is the annual Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion Lilac Festival from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Most people know that the lilac is the New Hampshire state flower but some may not know that the original lilac was imported from England around 1750 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth to display at his Portsmouth mansion.

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The to Portsmouth this coming weekend too.

“The 177-foot-tall ship Gazela will headline the festival.  The Gazela Primeiro, is the world’s oldest active wood hulled sailing vessel.  It is a three-masted, square rigged barkentine ship built in 1883 and has sailed continuously ever since.”

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If you feel the need for speed there’s he annual Runner’s Alley/Redhook Memorial 5k Road Race/Health Walk, which annually draws more than 1,000 runners, benefits the Krempels Brain Injury Foundation. Sunday, May 29th, 11:00 at the Redhook Brewery on Pease.

If you feel the need to look at any Seacoast New Hampshire homes for sale may we recommend you visit New Hampshire Maine Real Estate.com for all your Portsmouth and Seacoast area searching.

American flag photo courtesy of Ace Clipart

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