From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 28, 1972:

• In addition to the intended purpose of Memorial Day or Decoration Day, first celebrated in 1868, of honoring the nation’s war dead, many people also viewed it as the inauguration of summer. To this end, thousands of campers, boating enthusiasts, swimmers, hikers, fishermen, and picnickers were beginning to descend on area lakes. Lynn Myers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers resident supervisor at Perry Lake, was predicting 125,000 to 130,000 visitors to the lake over the three-day weekend.
• This year marked only the second time that Memorial Day was not to fall on May 30, as it had been moved to the nearest Monday to accommodate those who wished for an extended weekend. The largest service planned for Lawrence was to be conducted by members of the American Legion in Oak Hill Cemetery. The Veterans of Foreign Wars post and auxiliary were to conduct a service at the same time in Memorial Park Cemetery.