Memorial Day. It’s a federally-mandated Monday off from work, a long weekend that arrives during a time of year when the lingering sun still surprises; the temperature is rising but still falls well short of oppressive. The air is sweet with scents specific to the season: blossoms, freshly-mowed grass and barbecues. Lots of barbecues.

The weekend on the Vineyard is stuffed with sales, receptions, fairs, festivals and performances, plus events that give the people a chance to remember, to reflect and to honor those who fought and died.

Today, Friday, the Edgartown and Tisbury schools will each take a march to the sea.

In Tisbury, schoolchildren will leave the school at 12:30 p.m. and march down Spring street, onto Main and up the hill to Owen Park, where they will be joined by Veterans Services Officer Jo Ann Murphy and Army Reserve Staff Sergant Richard Monaco as they cast flowers into the sea, a symbol of respect meant to honor those lives lost in service.

Edgartown’s march begins a half-hour later, down Main street to Memorial Wharf, where they will be joined by Army Lt. Col. Ted Morgan and singer Mark Lovewell. Along with the traditional flowers and ceremony, students will recite the Pledge of Allegiance aloud and in American Sign Language.

On Saturday, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum opens part two of their newest exhibit, Those Who Serve: Martha’s Vineyard and World War II, with a reception running from 3 to 5 p.m. And Sunday, admission to the museum is free for all veterans of that war, as well as anyone carrying a bulletin from any Island church. This leaves nobody with an excuse as to why they would not visit and learn about the Island’s role in the greatest struggle the world has ever known.

On Monday is the parade. At 7:30 a.m., American Legion members and anyone else who shows up to lend a hand will put up 400 flags in Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven. Joined by Post 186 in Edgartown, the veterans will step off from Post 257, across from the Tisbury school, at 9:30 a.m. and proceed down the Avenue of Flags to the cemetery for a brief ceremony, featuring Maj. David Berube, a chaplain in the Air Force National Guard. Then at 3 p.m., following the ceremony, volunteers are invited to assist in taking down the Avenue of Flags. It’s the least we can do.

And meanwhile all are invited to a barbecue at the Tisbury Water Works, where grills from noon to 4 p.m. for the annual town picnic.