The annual SaddleBrooke Senior Softball Memorial Day Tournament is set for Monday, May 27 at the SaddleBrooke softball field, located at 61971 E. Oakwood Drive, the finest in southern Arizona.
The tournament features the men and women who play in the league’s current spring season. Three games (four possible) are planned, starting at 8 a.m.
Free hot dogs, bratwurst, hamburgers, chips, cookies, soda and water will be served for lunch. As always, donations are appreciated. It’s a fun day for all involved. There is also music and entertainment, and of course, exciting softball. It’s a good opportunity to socialize with your friends and neighbors and we look forward to another great turnout from the community. You know, we have so much action going on in our games, the best part is we do not have time for TV commercials. Now, how is that for grabbing your short attention span?
According to History.com, Memorial Day is an American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades.
On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of an organization for Northern Civil War veterans, called for a nationwide day of remembrance later that month. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed.
The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle. Memorial Day, as Decoration Day gradually came to be known, originally honored only those lost while fighting in the Civil War. But during World War I, the United States found itself embroiled in another major conflict, and the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in all wars, including World War II, the Vietnam War, the Korean War and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For decades, Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30, the date General Logan had selected for the first Decoration Day. But in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which established Memorial Day as the last Monday in May in order to create a three-day weekend for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.
The Memorial Day Tournament is one of four holiday events the SaddleBrooke Senior Softball Association conducts every year. The others are Veterans Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Labor Day.
As we wound down the winter 2024 season on Friday, April 19:
In the Recreation League team Absolute Art finished on top with a 7-3 record.
Monday Community we had a tight race between Barron Electric at 7-3 and Andy’s Irrigation Andy McInnis at 6-4.
Tuesday Community Canine & Company had a two game lead at 6-4 with one game to play.
Tuesday Competitive — Brittni Gutman Allstate had an 8-5 record just ahead of Beyond Clean at 8-7.
Wednesday Community — Concierge Air Conditioning was on top at 8-3.
Wednesday Sidewinder – Catalina Family Dental lead the way at 7-4.
Thursday Coyote – 1 game separated 3 teams Coyote Golf Cars at 7-6, Dominick’s Italian at 7-7, and Desert Life Pharmacy at 6-7.
Friday Competitive – Golf Cars of Arizona had a slim lead at 5-4 over Hardin Brothers at 4-5.
Friday Community – Healthy Skin at 7-4 led over Janine Denning Coldwell Banker at 6-4.
SaddleBrooke Senior Softball is in its 19th season. Games are played Monday through Friday, year-round, in five different leagues based on players’ skills and abilities. If you are interested in playing, volunteering, or just watching the games, visit saddlebrooke softball.com to learn more. The spring season starts Monday, May 6.
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