This Memorial Day, some of the seven national cemeteries located in Illinois will be honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.

The Rock Island National Cemetery will be holding Memorial Day services, says Marty Fury, cemetery director. "It's kicking off at 10:45," says Fury. "We'll have the presentation of colors, invocation, National Anthem. We have a keynote speaker from Washington, D.C.; he’s the acting deputy undersecretary for memorial affairs."

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was established by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan on May 30, 1868.  Many cities and towns have claimed to have held the first "Decoration Day." Carbondale, Logan's wartime home, claims to have held the first ceremony on April 29, 1866.  In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y. , the "birthplace" of Memorial Day.  A ceremony took place there on May 5, 1866, after the Carbondale ceremony, but supporters of Waterloo's claim say earlier observances in other places, such as Carbondale, were either informal, not community-wide or one-time events.

On Memorial Day, flags are to be flown at half staff from sunrise until noon, than raised briskly to the top of the staff until dusk.  When the flag is first raised at sunrise, it should be briskly raised to the top of the staff before being slowly lowered to half staff.

Memorial Day Ceremonies at National Cemeteries:

*    Alton National Cemetery, Alton – 6:30 p.m.

*    Danville National Cemetery, Danville – 10:45 a.m.

*     Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elmwood – 11 a.m.

*     Mound City National Cemetery, Mound City – Ceremony held Saturday

*     Quincy National Cemetery, Quincy – Ceremony held Sunday in Keokuk , Iowa

*    Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island – 10:45 a.m.

*    Camp Butler National Cemetery, Springfield – 2 p.m.