Hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.
Singer/Songwriter Bob Dylan
By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
Full Day of Memorial Day Programs
WKTV will be offering a full schedule of previous recorded Memorial Day programming. The day starts with the Crafty Ladies Memorial Day Floral Arrangements at 9:30 a.m. Special highlights of the day are the USS Silversides Lost Boat Ceremony at 11 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., the 2019 Kentwood Amvets Memorial Day Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. followed by the Arlington National Cemetery program at 1 p.m. Other programs feature special tributes to Vietnam such as the Vietnam Moving Wall and Return to Vietnam. All programming will be aired on WKTV Channel 25 and AT&T Channel 99.
Starting at 6:30 p.m., the WKTV Government Channel 26 will be featured the 2019 Kentwood Amvets Memorial Day Celebration. At 7 p.m. will be the USS Silversides Lost Boat Ceremony and at 8:15 p.m. will be the Arlington National Cemetery presentation. For complete schedules, visit wktv.org.
A Little Positivity
Saturday, City of Kentwood Commissioner Emily Bridson will host a casual conversation to “Celebrate the Small Victories” during the global pandemic. The Facebook Live Event will start at 10 a.m. on the WKTV Community Media Facebook Page and Emily Bridson’s Facebook Page.
The discussion is expected to include topics such as the local economy, personal growth, practices of local businesses that prioritize people’s safety and needs, and facilitating the sense of belonging in our community.
Census Numbers Climb
Both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood learned this week that the number of self responses for the 2020 Census already has exceeded the cities’ overall response rate for the 2010 U.S. Census, and there is still five months to go!
Area residents have until Oct. 31 to answer the nine questions about who lived in their home on April 1, 2020. Census fieldworkers are scheduled to go out Aug. 11 to Oct. 31. Interestingly, the response rate for online has been high. (The 2010 Census did not have an online component.) Check out all the details by clicking here.
Fun Fact: Poppies and Memorial Day
After World War I, the poppy flourished in Europe. Scientists attributed the growth to soils in France and Belgium becoming enriched with lime from the rubble left by the war. From the dirt and mud grew a beautiful red poppy. The red poppy came to symbolize the blood shed during battle following the 1915 publication of the wartime poem “In Flanders Fields.” The poem was written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, M.D. while serving on the front lines. The poppy was adopted by the American Legion and in 1924, poppies were distributed by the American Legion as a way to honor the fallen soldiers. Today Poppy Day, usually the Friday before Memorial Day, is observed in several countries.
