Red, white and blue will shine this weekend as several Memorial Day events feature patriotic speakers and solemn remembrances of those who have paid the highest price for freedom.

Local groups are planning several events to mark Memorial Day in Suffolk on Saturday and Monday.

On Saturday, the Suffolk chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy will hold a ceremony and stone dedication at 10 a.m. at the Confederate monument in Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Monday, the Disabled American Veterans Portsmouth Federal Chapter 22 will sponsor a program at the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, 5310 Milners Road in Suffolk, at 10 a.m. WAVY-TV 10 news anchor Kerri Furey will be the guest speaker. Furey began her broadcast career as an enlisted sailor in the U.S. Navy.

State Senator Louise Lucas (D-18th) also will speak. She has represented the 18th District since 1992 and serves as president and CEO of Lucas Lodge, Lucas Transportation, the Portsmouth Day Support Program and Southside Direct Care Provider organizations operating in the Lucas Professional Center in Portsmouth.

As a part of the ceremony, representatives from veteran service and other organizations will place wreaths at the committal shelter to honor Virginia’s fallen veterans.

American flags will be placed on all gravesites. Also, weather permitting, 34 American flags will line the cemetery drive from the entrance to the committal shelter, creating the Avenue of Flags.

Cemetery staff will be available to help visitors locate gravesites and military service members and veterans can file pre-applications for future burial in the cemetery.

Service members who were honorably discharged qualify for burial in one of Virginia’s veterans cemeteries. A gravesite, opening and closing of the grave for the veteran, placement of a government grave marker and perpetual care of the site are provided to the veteran at no charge.

Veterans’ spouses and eligible dependent children may be interred for a small fee, currently $300.

The Horton cemetery is one of two state-operated veterans cemeteries in operation, with the other located in Amelia. A third state cemetery is under construction in Dublin. All three are operated by the Virginia Department of Veterans Services.