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NO GREATER GIFTS MEMORIAL DAY PARADE OFFERS A TIME TO REMEMBER Staff Reports Hundreds lined the streets in downtown Sarasota on Monday, May 27, waving American flags and waving to the marchers in the traditional Memorial Day Parade. The theme of the parade and the ceremony that followed it was Never Forget. From military vehicles with veterans to groups of law enforcement officers to JROTC units to high school bands, the parade participants provided those in the crowd with an opportunity to reflect on all the men and women who had made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation. All photos are by Staff Photographer Norman Schimmel. % Fast Facts • Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. • Originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. • On May 26, 1966 President Johnson signed a presidential proclamation naming Waterloo, New York as the birthplace of Memorial Day. • One of the longest-standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, an auto race which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. Source: Wikipedia