Memorial Day Past and Present...

A New York druggist suggested honoring slain Civil War soldiers in 1865 by decorating their graves and within three years the custom became official. Some communities observed the practice on May first, some on the 30th, and eventually it became a federal three-day holiday with Memorial Day falling on the final Monday in May.

The practice of honoring fallen veterans will continue today in Florence and Reedsport. Veteran’s Services Administrator Val Conley of the Oregon Department of Veteran’s Affairs will present comments this morning during dedication ceremonies of Florence’s Veteran’s Park in Old Town. Construction on the memorial began last year after several years of planning and fund-raising. Today’s dedication service begins at 11 AM.

In Reedsport There’ll be a Memorial Day parade at noon followed by a community barbecue and a 1:30 PM memorial service at Hahn Park. A fly-by of a fighter jet from Oregon Air National Guard’s 142 Fighter Wing will take place somewhere around two o’clock.

That baby animal, alone in the woods, on the beach or alongside a trail is probably not abandoned and people should leave it alone. This is the time of year when many wild animals are giving birth and raising their young. Many times parents will leave their offspring in a secure location and only come back to bring them food. When those animals are discovered by humans, many times they’re thought to be orphaned or abandoned. Wildlife experts say it’s most likely they’re not and they should be left alone. Last year, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 628 supposedly ‘orphaned’ animals were admitted to licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Nearly one-third of those didn’t survive to make it back to the wild.

The Oregon Department of Human Services says a majority of flu victims tested recently have had seasonal rather than swine flu. Since March 4, the agency says, swine flu has sickened 120 people in 11 Oregon counties, while strains of seasonal flu have affected 155 people. The state says seven Oregonians have been hospitalized with swine flu. No Oregon swine flu deaths have been reported. Dr. Mel Kohn, Oregon's public health director, says seasonal flu strains in the state affect about one in 10 people and account for some 400 deaths each year.

Many recognize the particular bugle call that will ring through the air today in honor of Memorial Day. But, most don’t know the history behind it. The so-called “Taps” melody was created by Union Army Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield during the Civil War as the army’s bugle call to signal ‘lights out’. Most people now associate “Taps” with military deaths, and with good cause. Shortly after its introduction, a funeral was held for a fallen solder and the man’s commanding officer decided the traditional rifle volley over the grave would trigger more fighting. So, instead, a bugler was called in to play the new tune.

TAKING A LOOK INTO COAST RADIO SPORTS:

Track and Field:

The Viking Girls finished with 33 points in sixth place overall at the OSAA State Track and Field Finals over the weekend in Eugene. The Siuslaw Boys were 26th with eight points. Top performers for the Viks… Raelyn Robinson improved her school record by two seconds with a time of 4:48.51 to finish second in the 1500 meter. Robinson also finished fifth in the 800. Samantha Pummer had a second place finish in the 3-thousand with a time of 10:45.56. Shelbey McClellan was fourth in the shot put, eighth in the discus. Her sister, Madison McClellan was 10th and 11th respectively in the same events. The girls' 4x400 relay team of Linda Paredes, Brooke Swesey, Mariah Johnston and Raelyn Robinson came in eighth overall.

Brandon Livingston was fifth in the boys' shot put and Jacob Berkner, who ran in the 3,000 and the 1500 placed fifth in the latter with a time of 9:00.57.

Prep Baseball:

Trevor Roberts pitched a complete game four-hitter Friday, but the Vikings gave up five errors, falling to the Tillamook Cheesemakers 5-1 to end their season. The Cheesemakers advance to face Gladstone tomorrow in the second round of the OSAA 4A playoffs. Friday’s game has the possibility of being the final ever for Siuslaw. Baseball, softball and wrestling have been targeted for elimination because of budget cuts.

Pac Ten Baseball:

The Oregon State Beavers will find out this morning if a third place finish in the Pac Ten is good enough to get them into one of the NCAA regional tournaments. The Beavers took two of three games from Stanford over the weekend. The regular season ended for Oregon yesterday in familiar fashion with a 5-2 loss to Arizona. The Ducks ended with a 4-23 conference record, 14-42 overall.