Community Notebook: Memorial Weekend Events and Closures

By Amber Lester Kennedy Thursday, May 26, 2011

As we head into the holiday weekend, take a moment to remember all the veterans who gave their lives in military service. We’ve gathered information about Memorial Day celebrations and closures throughout the Historic Triangle below.

Statewide

As part of the yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of Virginia State Parks, all active-duty military, as well as veterans living in Virginia, will receive free admission to all Virginia State Parks from Friday to the end of the year.

To participate, veterans must either have a retired military identification card or a standard discharge form known as a DD214. Active duty personnel must have their photo identification card issued by the Department of Defense, and family members must also have their government-issued ID card.

Williamsburg

The Williamsburg Storytelling Collaborative will present a concert called, “Stories That Make a Difference: A Soldier’s Sacrifice” at 7 p.m. on Saturday. The presentation benefits the 1st Lt. Todd W. Weaver Memorial Award at the College of William and Mary.

The stories will honor those who made significant sacrifice in fighting for freedom and liberty. Tickets are required, but are free of charge, and donations will be taken at the concert. Door prizes will be available for members of the military and their immediate families only. Read more about Weaver and the memorial award here.

Colonial Williamsburg offers special programs and free admission this weekend to U.S. veterans, active duty military personnel, guard and reservists and their dependents. The Memorial Day Commemorative Program begins at 10 a.m. Monday in the Historic Area, with a procession led by the Fifes and Drums. The procession will visit three sites – the Governor’s Palace, Bruton Parish Church and Providence Hall – to honor veterans who were interred in or near those sites during the Revolutionary and Civil wars. The service is free and open to the public.

From Friday to Monday, CW will also offer complimentary admission tickets to active duty military, reservists, retirees, veterans and their families. The “Honoring Service to America” ticket provides admission to the Historic Area and museums, along with a walking tour, free shuttle bus service to and from the Visitor Center and free parking at the Visitor Center. The service member doesn’t have to be present, and free tickets will be provided to immediate family members of currently deployed troops with appropriate identification. Military veterans who separated before retirement can bring a copy of their honorable discharge paperwork, the DD Form 214, as identification of service.

Through the Blue Star Museums Program sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, military families can also visit Williamsburg’s art museums for free from May 30 to Sept. 5. Active duty military or their dependents present their current valid military identification at the Colonial Williamsburg Regional Visitor Center in order to receive free admission to Bassett Hall, the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.

Military members and their families can enjoy discounted $5 tickets and free popcorn at the Kimball Theatre to see “Cedar Rapids” and/or “Buitiful.” “Cedar Rapids” stars Ed Helms as a small-town man who travels to a convention. The movie will be shown at 4 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. May 27-29.

“Buitiful” stars Javier Bardem in an Oscar-nominated performance as a man struggling to provide for his children in the dangerous underworld of Barcelona. The film will be shown at 4:30 and 7:15 p.m. on May 29.

Premium Outlets will commemorate Memorial Day with a weekend sale, from Friday to Monday. The outlets are also honoring military service with its National Military Appreciation Month, ending on May 31, which offers discounts to all military personnel who present their Military ID at the Information Center. Find more information about discounts here.

James City County

Young settlers can muster at Historic Jamestowne on Saturday, where they’ll learn how to defend the James Fort from a man who knows. Willie Balderson will portray Captain Bruster, who arrived at Jamestown in 1610 as commander of Lord De La Warr’s personal guard. He’ll show kids how to use the halberd, an ancient pole arm, in their defense at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Guests can also interact with archaeologists from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The program is free with paid admission to Historic Jamestowne, which is $10 for adults and free for children under 16. Learn more here.

York County

Yorktown will celebrate Memorial Day with a one-hour ceremony beginning at noon on May 30. The ceremony will include the posting of colors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 824, historical reenactors, a guest speaker, the placing of flowers by the Comte De Grasse chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the presentation of awards to student winners of the “York County Remembers” poster essay contest. Congressman Rob Wittman will present the awards to the essay winners. The ceremony will be at York Hall. For more information, call (757) 890-3500 or click here.

Yorktown is also commemorating the village’s role in the Civil War Peninsula Campaign, featuring tactical demonstrations, encampments and a Confederate field hospital from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Memorial Day ceremonies will also take place at the Yorktown National Cemetery and the Confederate Cemetery. Admission is charged to the Yorktown Battlefield. Call (757) 898-2410.

At the Watermen’s Museum, a Colonial Market Fair and Militia Muster will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The event includes Colonial music, crafts demonstration and sales and naval living history demonstrations.

Closures

• James City County, Williamsburg and York County offices closed Monday

• James City/Williamsburg Community Center closed Monday

• James River Community Center closed Monday

• Williamsburg Regional Library closed Sunday and Monday

• James City County Library closed Sunday and Monday

• Virginia Cooperative Extension closed Monday

• Social Services closed Monday

• James City County Garbage Transfer Station closed Monday

• York County Waste Management Center closed Monday, with garbage pickup moved one day forward. Recycling pickups will not be affected.

• All courts closed Monday

• James City County Convenience Center, recycling will be on regular schedule