By Annabeth Miller,
ShowMe Times Editor

The summer season unofficially kicks off this weekend, and there are a number of activities to keep families busy between the picnics and outings.
While Memorial Day is a day to honor those who have died while fighting the nation's wars, the holiday weekend has developed into a time for family gatherings, special events, and starting the "summer style" of living.

100-mile Yard Sale

It’s a bargain-hunter’s drea – 100 miles of yard sale bargans!

Begun 13 years ago, the event stretches from Jackson down Highway 25 all the way to Kennett. And along the way are yard sales featuring mustache cups, dogged-earred books, and treasures waiting to be discovered.

The 100-Mile Yard Sale stretches through the weekend.

Splash! Aquatic Center Opens!

The water is clear and ready for swimmers, and at 1 p.m. Saturday the gates of the Dexter Aquatic Center will open for swimmers of all ages.

The Aquatic Center is in the East City Park, and access to the parking lot is available both through East City Park or on Fairgrounds Road.

Admission to the Aquatic Center is $6 per person. The pool will be open from 1 – 5 p.m., seven days a week, beginning with Saturday’s season opener. An individual pass for the entire summer is $85; a family pass is $225.

Flood Relief Benefit

This is a benefit for the flood victims in Southeast Missouri at the Dexter Eagles on Saturday. There will be a Karaoke Contest from 12 noon till 2 pm, local entertainment, bake sale, jewelry, donations to raffle. Some of the entertainment includes recently DHS graduate Lauren Elizabeth Powers, Sean Bowmar, Chris Welch Band, and Keith Morrison Band will close the evening out.

DHS Choir Alumni Reunion and Concert

More than 100 alumni of the Dexter High School Choirs will gather this weekend and present a special concert in honor of retiring DHS Choral Music Educator MaryRuth Boone. The concert will be held at 4 p.m., Sunday, May 29 at the First Baptist Church in Dexter. The choir will also present the special music during the 10:30 a.m. worship service at the First United Methodist Church in Dexter, where Boone is the director of music. The 4 o’clock concert is free and the public is invited to attend. A reception honoring Boone and her family will follow the concert.

Memorial Day Observance Program

The Missouri Veterans Cemetery south of Bloomfield will hold its annual Memorial Day Program at 1 p.m., May 30, at the Committal Shelter Plaza. This is always s stirring tribute to the men and women who have served our country and defended liberty and freedom in our world.

At 12 noon the flags at the cemetery will be raised at full staff, and the program will begin with the posting of the colors by the Farmington Correction Center Honor Guard Team.

Featured in the service will be the oving POW/MIA Table Ceremony.

Guest speaker will be LSCS Jeffrey Colyer, Us. Navy. Colyer enlisted in the Navy in 1989, serving with the Navy SEABEES and was deployed in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

He was awarded the designation of Seabee Combat Warfare Specialist in 1993, and served in various Navy units until his transfer to Southwest Asia Security Det. Bravo in 2000.

He served as the small arms instructor for the Security Detachment, gaining numerous weapons instructor certifications. After the attacks of September 11, members of his unit were mobilized in support of Noble Eagle and Iraqi Freedom. Senior Chief remained on station in the US and qualified other reserve units prior to their deployment. He gained his Scoped Precision Rifle Instructor certification, prior to his own deployment to the Middle East in 2002.

Senior Chief Colyer served in support of Operation Noble Eagle with NSA Bahrain, and Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, with Combined Task Force 53, and the U.S. Navy Central Command, prior to his demobilization in late 2004. He now serves as Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Commander, NR Navy Recruiting Command in Millington, TN.

He is currently the Commander of VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, and is set to retire from the Navy after 23 years of service in 2012. He is married to his lovely wife Laila, and has three children Stacey, Jeremy, and Jessica.

The Memorial Day program will end with the sounding of Taps and the retiring of the colors.