Memorial Day: Remember McHone, McLeod, Antonik and Collins.

Memorial Day weekend in Crystal Lake has been marked by celebration, parties and picnics.

With the city’s three high schools holding graduation ceremonies earlier Saturday there were plenty of gatherings already underway that afternoon and night.

Green and yellow balloons tied to mailboxes signaled the party houses on the city’s south side. Black and orange colors decorated homes in Crystal Lake’s downtown district, Lakewood, Turnberry and Summit Glen neighborhoods. Prairie Ridge’s maroon and silver adorned the north side of town.

Giant inflatable slides, moon walks, 'bags' boxes and badminton nets invaded front lawns. Throw in birthday celebrations, confirmation ceremonies, weddings and the traditional Memorial Day barbecues, and residents had much to celebrate.

But somewhere in between the burgers and brats, let’s all take a moment to honor the men and women who served our United States in order to preserve our  freedoms – freedom of religion, freedom to seek an education, and freedom to gather with friends and family.

In particular, please remember the Crystal Lake soldiers who died for our freedom including:

, who was killed Jan. 19, in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. McHone was 29 when he died and a 2001 graduate of Crystal Lake South High School. According to friends, he planned to return to Crystal Lake when his tour ended.

Army Spc. Jason A. McLeod, who died at the young age of 22 on Nov. 23, 2009, when he was killed in a mortar attack in Afghanistan. McLeod was a 2006 graduate of Crystal Lake Central High School and was serving his second deployment for the U.S. Army. He was only weeks away from returning home to see wife Aimee, and their 15-month-old daughter.

Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan W. Collins, 19, who died Aug. 8, 2004, due to enemy action in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Collins, a Crystal Lake South High School alumnus, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, 1 Marine Expeditionary Force in Camp Pendleton, Calif. - update 9:30 a.m. per reader comment.

Marine Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Atonik, 29, died July 11, 2010, after an attack in the Helmand province in Afghanistan. Atonik was a 2000 graduate of Prairie Ridge High School. He was assigned to the 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command in Camp Pendleton, Calif. - update 9:30 a.m. per reader comment.