Plans are forming for this year’s annual Picnic in the Park celebration in Sistersville.

Fund raising is slated to begin in May for the firework’s fund. Donations may be dropped off at the Tyler Star News, said Sistersville Community Service Organization President Barbara Vincent during the April meeting.

The Blue Blazers, comprised of local American Legion and VFW members, will again conduct flag raising ceremonies.

Vincent said she will contact the Cartoon Headquarters to see about the inflatable structures returning for the children. She will also try to procure the climbing wall again.

“We had quite a good turnout last year,” Vincent said. “I think it gets bigger and bigger every year.”

Prior to the annual Fourth of July celebration will be Memorial Day weekend. Representing American Legion Post No. 67 of Sistersville was Ray “Top” Tarnecki who said the post home will place flags on veterans’ graves in the 99 cemeteries in Tyler County.

“That’s not including the private cemeteries,” he said. “We don’t touch those unless we have permission or the family asks.”

A poker run is planned in the near future to help pay for the flags.

Elks Lodge No. 333 of Sistersville will sponsor Memorial Day services at Veterans’ Park in town, but Legion No. 67 will conduct services. The Sistersville American Legion and VFW alternate years.

Following services at 11 a.m. at the park, the public is invited to attend a feed at the post home provided by the ladies auxiliary.

Tarnecki suggested contacting the Sistersville High School alumni band for Memorial Day services because the Tyler Consolidated High School Marching Band will be unable to attend due to the holiday.

He mentioned Flag Day will be July 26 at Veterans’ Park.

“The biggest thing we’ve got going are Boys and Girls State,” Tarnecki said. “It cost us $200 per boy for state and, I think, $150 for girls. We have 16 boys at Tyler Consolidated qualified to attend. It’s a good program. It has a place on college applications to check whether you’ve attended Boys State or not.”

State is a one-week course in the operations of government and the political process. The objective of Mountaineer Boys State is to have the young men run the 51st state of the United States. They will elect all positions for state, county and city government while learning how government works.

This American Legion program has been held in West Virginia since 1936.

Under old business, Vincent said the Easter Egg Hunt held March 29 at the Sistersville City Park was a success.

The American Legion Post No. 67 provided three large baskets for winners of ticket drawings.

The next meeting of the SCSO will be May 14 at noon.