Americans in Lawrence and across the nation likely will put aside renewed concerns about terrorism to celebrate the Memorial Day weekend with special ceremonies and outdoor activities.

Memorial Day ceremonies will be conducted at area cemeteries by Dorsey-Liberty American Legion Post No. 14, Alford-Clarke Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 852 and Disabled American Veterans Jayhawk Chapter No. 22.

Clinton and Perry lakes are gearing up to receive thousands of campers, boaters and other visitors.

Tuesday, citing concerns of possible attacks across the county, the White House increased the nation’s terrorism alert level. But there is no special reason for concern in Douglas County, law enforcement authorities said.

“We have no intelligence that there is an identifiable threat to this area,” Douglas County Sheriff Rick Trapp said. “We are always vigilant and have been for several months.”

That said, the holiday weekend will serve as the kickoff to summer.

“Most of the kids are out of school, and people just want to get out and enjoy the weekend,” said Bunnie Watkins, state park manager at Perry Lake.

Lee Kennedy, manager of the Clinton Lake Marina, agreed.

“We’re all stocked up and ready to go,” he said. “The weather sounds like it is going to cooperate with us.”

Chris Coffman, of Clinton Marina Inc., installs a boat hoist at Clinton Lake. Coffman was busy Wednesday performing final tasks in anticipation of the busy Memorial Day weekend.

Most of the weekend should be partly cloudy with highs in the mid-70s, according to National Weather Service forecasts.

Perry Marina will mark the opening of a new restaurant, Molly’s on the Lake, which has the same ownership as Molly McGee’s bar and restaurant in Lawrence. It will open at noon Friday and will be open every weekend this summer, Watkins said.

A new public shower will open at Perry’s Rock Creek Park, Watkins said.

The American Legion will be out at Oak Hill Cemetery starting at 7 a.m. Monday to put up more than 330 flags along its Avenue of Flags. A 10 a.m. ceremony will honor fallen veterans. State Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, will be the guest speaker. Ballard’s husband, Al, is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Legion member.

“We wanted someone who knows what it is like to have a family member away from home serving in the military,” Legion president Don Dalquest said.

At noon, the Legion will conduct a ceremony at Clinton Cemetery.

The VFW will conduct its ceremony at 11 a.m. at Memorial Park Cemetery. Earlier, at 9 a.m., the VFW and Disabled American Veterans will pay homage to deceased veterans with a ceremony in Maple Grove Cemetery north of Lawrence at the junction of U.S. Highways 24 and 40.

At Kansas University, carillonneur Elizabeth Berghout will perform at 7 p.m. at the Campanile south of Memorial Stadium.

With so much activity, law enforcement presence will be noticeable.

The Kansas Highway Patrol will have extra troopers on the highways watching for traffic violators, Supt. Col. Don Brownlee said. Troopers may stop vehicles whenever they see children not restrained in seats, he said.

Douglas County Sheriff’s officers may have a few extra deputies on patrol, and there will be an increased presence at Clinton and Lone Star lakes, Trapp said.

Lawrence Police will conduct routine patrols, Lt. David Cobb said.