Veterans to be honored, remembered during upcoming Memorial Day weekend

Many of us are looking forward to a long weekend as the Memorial Day holiday ushers in the unofficial start of summer.

Local veterans are wanting to remind the public of the meaning behind the holiday and are taking steps to remember their fallen brothers and sisters.

For those planning to drive during the break, law enforcement agencies across Texas are urging motorists to stay safe behind the wheel.

— All federal, State of Texas, Hunt County, Rockwall County and City of Royse City offices will be closed Monday. Most banks will be closed, as will the U.S. Postal Service, with no mail delivery scheduled.

The business offices of the Herald-Banner will also be closed Monday and will reopen for regular hours Tuesday.

• The Royse City American Legion Post No. 100 plans to place wreaths and/pr American flags on the graves of all veterans to honor and remember their service and sacrifice. The event is scheduled at 8 a.m. at the Royse City Cemetery, 928 Cemetery Rd, Royse City and at 9:30 a.m. at the Post namesake at Rest Haven Cemetery, 2500 Highway 66 East, Rockwall.

• One of a series of long walks across the United States in support of America’s veterans has begun its journey and again is scheduled to pass through Royse City, during its journey across Hunt and Rockwall counties on the Memorial Day weekend.

It is the ninth year Carry The Load has come through North Texas on its way to its final destination in Dallas.

The walk which is scheduled to pass through Royse City Saturday is the New England Route, which began May 3 in Burlington, Vt.

While in neighboring Hunt County, the relay is scheduled to stop at around 4 p.m. at Gibson Automotive, 2600 I-30 Frontage Road in Greenville, before continuing at 4 p.m. for the 6.1 mile walk to the Pilot Travel Center on FM 1903 in Caddo Mills. The relay then moves on to the Royse City High School stadium, 700 S. FM 2642, arriving at around 9 p.m., then Soulman’s Bar-B-Que, 818 I-30 Frontage Road, Royse City, at 10 p.m. before continuing through Fate, Rockwall, Rowlett and Garland.

• The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is reminding drivers to celebrate Memorial Day safely.

The Texas Highway Patrol, Royse City Police Department and other law enforcement agencies are participating through Monday in Click It or Ticket, as well as Operation CARE (Crash Awareness Reduction Effort).

Click It or Ticket is an enforcement campaign that encourages people to wear their seat belts. Operation CARE is a specialized campaign in which Troopers look for drivers who are speeding, intoxicated or violating other laws. Troopers will also watch for drivers not complying with the state’s Move Over, Slow Down law.

“We know Memorial Day is a busy time on the state’s roads, and we encourage people to just take a little extra time, obey the traffic laws and watch out for each other,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “By following traffic laws, paying attention to other drivers and buckling your seat belt, we all get to have a safer holiday and that’s really what’s important.”

During the 2022 Memorial Day campaign, Troopers issued more than 66,700 citations and warnings. This includes 4,790 citations for speeding; 1,184 for no insurance; and more than 718 citations for individuals without seat belts or child seat restraints. DPS also arrested 195 people on DWI charges, 175 fugitives and 296 people for other felony charges.