Nebraska
Gallery: Memorial Day Across Central Nebraska
CENTRAL NEBRASKA — Citizens took time out of their three day weekend to take time to observe the Memorial Day holiday, as well as decorating the graves of loved ones.
Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day and the first national observance was held on May 30, 1868. The holiday was proclaimed by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic to honor the Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War.
The modern proclamation calls on Americans “to observe Memorial Day by praying, according to their individual religious faith, for permanent peace.”
More than 600,000 soldiers of the Union and Confederacy fought and died in the Civil War and the scale of the human loss ensured that burial and memorialization took on a new cultural significance in the United States.
Official recognition as a holiday spread among the states, beginning with New York in 1873. By 1890, every state in the Union had adopted it.
Following the World Wars, the event turned into a day of remembrance for all the members of the U.S. military who fought and died in service.
By 1971, Congress standardized the holiday as “Memorial Day” and changed its observance to the last Monday in May.
There are two other days celebrate those who have served or are serving in the U.S. military.
Armed Forces Day, observed earlier in May, is an unofficial U.S. holiday for honoring those currently serving in the armed forces, and Veterans Day, Nov. 11, which honors all those who have served in the United States armed forces.
Memorial Day is commemorated at Arlington National Cemetery each year with a ceremony where a small American flag is placed on each grave. Traditionally the President or Vice President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
“We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country, they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue,” James A. Garfield said on May 30, 1868 at Arlington National Cemetery.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A 20-year-old driver accused of reaching 160 mph while fleeing from state troopers in Lancaster County was arrested early Thursday.
The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) said the incident began around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when a trooper was patrolling on Interstate 80 in Lincoln, southeast of Lincoln Airport. A BMW sedan was reportedly seen speeding at more than 95 mph in a 65 mph zone.
The trooper attempted a traffic stop on the BMW, but the driver accelerated and fled eastbound, NSP said. A pursuit then began.
NSP said the BMW driver reached speeds of more than 160 mph on Interstate 80 before taking the exit at 56th Street and continuing south. The pursuit was discontinued out of concern for public safety.
The suspect vehicle was found several minutes later by another trooper. It was traveling westbound on Cornhusker Highway between 70th and 65th streets.
NSP said the driver again fled from law enforcement, turning northbound onto 56th Street, where another trooper successfully deployed stop sticks. The driver continued before coming to a stop near Highway 77 and Agnew Road in northern Lancaster County and ran off.
Troopers, with help from several other agencies, later found the driver when he returned home around 1:30 a.m. Thursday.
The driver, identified as Nathanael Campbell of Ceresco, was arrested on suspicion of flight to avoid arrest, second-offense willful reckless driving, obstructing a peace officer and other traffic violations. He was lodged in the Lancaster County Jail.
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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Fans are invited to join the No. 2 Nebraska softball team at Bowlin Stadium on Sunday for a free NCAA selection-show watch party.
Doors open at 5 p.m., and the show begins at 6 p.m. During the event, Nebraska will learn its NCAA Tournament opponents.
Nebraska Athletics said fans will have an opportunity to take a photo with the Big Ten regular-season championship trophy during the event.
Nebraska makes its first appearance in the Big Ten Tournament at Maryland Softball Stadium in College Park, Maryland, on Thursday at 12:30 p.m. It will play either No. 8 Ohio State or No. 9 Michigan.
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Copyright 2026 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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