This weekend the country celebrates Memorial Day, and the Vineyard steps up in style, too, in remembering those who fought and died for this country.

On Friday, students from the Tisbury and Edgartown schools participate in the annual march to the sea parade and scatter flowers in Island waters. The students head off at 12:30 p.m. from the Tisbury School to Owen Park and the Vineyard Haven Harbor, and at 1 p.m. students from the Edgartown School march down to Memorial Wharf.

Lots of fun to be had at Tisbury town picnic. — Ivy Ashe

On Monday at 7:30 a.m., there will be a raising of the flags ceremony at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Vineyard Haven. The Memorial Day parade begins at 10 a.m., starting at the American Legion Hall post 257 on Martin Road and heading to the Oak Grove Vineyard Haven cemetery and down the Avenue of Flags. The ceremony will include a laying of wreaths, the singing of the Star Spangled Banner and guest speaker Navy Reserve Commander Paul J. Brawley.

Commander Brawley has more than 23 years of active duty and reserve service, and has handled well over 80 visits of U.S. Navy ships to New England. He has also planned and executed such major events as the final port visit to Boston by the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy in 2007 and the bicentennial celebration of the War of 1812 in Boston.

Later on Monday, from noon to 4 p.m., the Tisbury town picnic will take place at the Tisbury waterworks. There will be grilling, picnicking, pony rides, chalk art, games, free ice cream, dinghies and music by the luminous Flying Elbows.