The American Legion and the Vicksburg National Military Park will honor America’s veterans with programs and special events during the Memorial Day weekend, May 25 to 28, featuring a parade, cannon demonstrations and a concert by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

The observance begins May 25, when volunteers place flags at the headstones in the National Cemetery at the park starting at 7:30 a.m.

The park’s living history musket and cannon demonstrations will be May 25 and 26, with living historians giving live weapons demonstrations firing 12-pound Napoleon at the park visitor center at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and musket and infantry demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

May 26, the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra will present a free concert at 7 p.m. at the park. The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign and the Four Seasons of the Arts. The title of the concert is “Symphony at Sunset: Celebrating the 155th Anniversary of the Siege of Vicksburg.”

There will be no public parking available at the visitor center for the concert. Guests wishing to attend the symphony should park at the Vicksburg Outlet Mall and use the free shuttle to get to the symphony. The shuttle service will begin at 5 p.m.

May 28, Memorial Day, American Legion Posts 213 and 3 and the Vicksburg-Warren County Memorial Day Committee will present the 39th annual Memorial Day activities beginning with a parade down Washington Street starting at 10 a.m. and followed by a memorial service at the Vicksburg Auditorium at 11 a.m.

Army Sgt. Maj. Richard Broussard of the 412th Theater Engineer Command in Vicksburg will be the featured speaker at the service.

A wreath laying at 12:30 p.m. at the National Cemetery in the Military Park with a 21-gun salute and Taps will conclude the activities. Park rangers will hold a guided walk of the cemetery at the conclusion of the ceremony. The walk will last one hour and cover 1 mile of the cemetery tour road.

At 1 p.m. the National Park Service in conjunction with local veterans will host a remembrance event, including a flag-raising ceremony at the Vicksburg National Cemetery. Parking in the cemetery will be limited to those with limited mobility. General parking will be available at the USS Cairo Museum, a short walk to the cemetery site.

Also on May 28, the Friends of the Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign and the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors’ Bureau will offer two free guided bus tours of the Military Park for residents of Vicksburg and Warren County.

The tours will be held at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will last two hours each. Participants must be at least 8 years old. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Residents may reserve a spot on either tour by calling 601-636-0583 ext. 0. Participants must be at the visitor center 30 minutes before the tour time.