By Marianne Lincoln

It’s almost the end of the 2012-13 school years. Seniors are itching to be graduated, students are ready for summer vacation and the school staff is ready for some peace and quiet. Near the end of the year is the last long weekend, Memorial Day.

If Thursday’s freeway traffic volumes were any indicator, a great many people left on long weekends Thursday. Looking on-line at the WSDOT traffic maps, the freeway traffic was packed and slow everywhere.

Having been on a school board myself, I am aware of another little problem. The school teachers and other staff are like everyone else; they want that long weekend too. Substitute teachers are in high demand on the Friday before a three day weekend. It is not uncommon to have a shortage of subs on those days. District teachers union contracts and board policies spell out special requirements for long weekends like this, to encourage the employees to stay to the end of the day Friday and do their jobs before exiting for the great outdoors.

Of course, student absences will tell a story as well. Parents, eager to get to their mini-vacation destinations, will pull their children out of class. Our vociferous insistence on a thorough and competitive education takes a back seat to the will to get away for a few days.

Here’s hoping the kids that stayed in class got an education today. Perhaps it was a real world education on the conflict of work-life balance. In any case, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Remember to be thankful to all those who serve you this weekend. They are not getting a holiday, they are working. And a grateful thank you to those for whom this Memorial Day (Decoration Day) holiday is dedicated, those who have died in our Nation’s service. There is a bit of history on Memorial Day here:  http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Remember your flag protocol: http://www.usflag.org/flagetiquette.html  This Post article includes several local ceremonies in the area: https://pierceprairiepost.com/2013/05/23/joint-base-lewis-mcchord-honors-fallen-servicemen-in-memorial-day-ceremony/

Fir Lane’s Memorial Day ceremony is on Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. With the help of volunteer veteran groups, scouts and local families, crosses and flags will be placed on veteran graves Saturday May 25, 2013 at 10:00 A.M.. Anyone wishing to help is welcome. Just bring yourself and a hammer.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!