*foot notes

Every Memorial Day we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and pray that they might be the last.

* Memorial Day dates to the Civil War. The holiday, originally celebrated on May 30 and known as Decoration Day, initially honored just the 600,000 Americans who lost their lives in the War Between the States. But over the years, it has come to honor all those who died in wartime service to the U.S., from 1776 to the present. The name Memorial Day was adopted in 1882. In 1971 the holiday was moved to the last Monday in May.

* This year President Clinton and Congress are encouraging Americans to pause for one minute for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. (local time) Monday. The 2000 National Memorial Day Concert, featuring Trisha Yearwood, B.B. King, Ossie Davis, General Colin Powell and others, will air Sunday at 7:30 p.m. on KCET-TV.

* The 12th annual Canoga Park Memorial Day Parade starts Monday at 11 a.m. at the corner of Sherman Way and Owensmouth Avenue. This year’s grand marshals will be Councilwoman Laura Chick, John Agar, Halley Eveland and animated character Bugs Bunny. U.S. Rep. Brad Sherman, state Sen. Richard Alarcon, county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and others will speak. (818) 884-4222.

* Burbank’s Memorial Day ceremony takes place Monday at 11 a.m. at the McCambridge Park War Memorial at the corner of Amherst Drive and San Fernando Boulevard. The Burbank High School Band will perform and there will be a flyover by the Condor Squadron. U.S. Rep. James Rogan, state Sen. Adam Schiff and others will speak. (818) 238-5390.

* Memorial Day weekend has also become the unofficial start of summer--a time for picnics, parties and other festivities. The 84th Indianapolis 500 begins Sunday at 11 a.m. Closer to home will be the 14th annual UCLA JazzReggae Festival and the Old Pasadena Summer Fest.