It's been called the unofficial start of summer and it's certainly the day we pause to remember those who have died in service to our nation.

However you look at it, Memorial Day is on our doorstep.

Following is a sampling of Memorial Day activities for the East suburbs and Westmoreland County. Events take place on Monday unless indicated:

Arnold/New Kensington -- A parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. and proceed from Constitution Avenue to Drey Street to Fifth Avenue to the Ninth Street Bridge. A ceremony will take place on the center of the bridge, and participants will throw wreaths into the Allegheny River. Then they'll move to the Gold Star Mothers Monument in New Kensington, with another ceremony at the monument and lunch at the American Legion at noon.

Delmont -- A ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the Twin Valley Cemetery, including a 21-gun salute.

Forest Hills -- A ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at the war memorial next to the borough building on Ardmore Boulevard.

Irwin -- A parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Second Street and travel along Main Street to Pennsylvania Avenue and end at Union Cemetery.

Ligonier Borough/Township -- A parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. on East Main Street and travel around the diamond in the borough to Ligonier Valley Cemetery in the township for a service at 11 a.m.

Monroeville -- Participants in the 9 a.m. parade will line up at 8:30 a.m. The route will proceed west on William Penn Highway from Valley Honda to Northern Pike to the municipal building on Monroeville Boulevard to Old Stone Church cemetery at Monroeville Boulevard and Stroschein Road. A ceremony will take place in cemetery.

Penn Borough -- A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the monument at South Carbon Street, with food and beverages at the pavilion on Harrison Avenue afterward.

Penn Hills -- A parade down Frankstown Road will begin at 11:30 a.m. at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church and end in front of the municipal building.

Pitcairn -- A parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Wall Avenue, and proceed to the Park Building on Broadway, with a ceremony to follow.

Seward -- A parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Route 711 and proceed along Route 56 and Seventh Street to Indiana Street. A ceremony will be held at Memorial Park to honor two local men who died in Iraq; part of Route 711 will be named in their memory.

Smithton -- A parade will begin at noon at Third and Pier streets, immediately followed by a service at the American Legion Community Park.

Vandergrift -- A parade will start at the corner of Hawthorne and Longfellow streets at 10 a.m. and travels along Longfellow Street to Hancock Avenue to Walnut Street to Franklin Avenue to Grant Avenue. It will end at Grant and Sumner avenues. A memorial service will be held in front of the Casino Building.

Verona/Oakmont -- A parade starts at 9 a.m. on Allegheny River Boulevard in Verona and will travel along Pennsylvania Avenue in Oakmont to Oakmont-Verona Cemetery.

Versailles -- A parade will begin at 3 p.m. and proceed from the Olympia Shopping Center to the war memorial on Walnut Street in McKeesport, followed by a free buffet lunch at the American Legion.

Wall -- A memorial service will take place at 9 a.m. at the borough monument, 400 block of Wall Avenue.

West Newton -- A parade will form at 9 a.m. at Vine Street Park and will proceed to Main Street, across the bridge onto Vernon Drive, then to West Newton Cemetery and a program at Memorial Grove.

White Oak -- A parade starts at 12:30 p.m. at Willard Avenue and Lincoln Way and will travel along Lincoln Way to the American Legion, followed by a ceremony at the Legion.

Wilmerding -- A service will be held at 8 a.m. in the town park.