In Warrenton, services begin at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial monument in front of the Warren County Courthouse. Marthasville will hold its services beginning at 11 a.m. at the American Legion Daniel Boone Post 180. Vietnam veteran Bill Webb will be the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Wright City's ceremony will begin at 1:30 p.m. at the city cemetery. An honor guard will present the colors and the Rev. Doug Kraus will be the guest speaker. "Memorial Day is a national holiday when we honor the true heroes of America, the men and women of our armed forces," said Russell Brockfeld, one of the organizers for the event in Warrenton. "This day is in remembrance of the sacrifice these men and women have made," added Brockfeld. "They have exchanged their lives for our liberty and freedom." The ceremony in Warrenton will include the presentation of the colors by an honor guard. The flag will be raised and then lowered to half-staff, where it will remain until noon. The guest speaker for the event will be Tony Houston. A wreath-laying ceremony will follow, with a gun salute and the playing of taps to conclude the ceremonies. Brockfeld said the practice of observing Memorial Day began shortly after the Civil War when Union and Confederate widows gathered to lay wreaths at the graves of soldiers who died in the conflict. "We have chosen to continue this tradition and regularly pay tribute to the American men and women who have died in the conflicts that have followed," Brockfeld noted.