NATCHEZ — Hundreds of Miss-Lou residents are expected to march from Vidalia to the Natchez National Cemetery today in remembrance of those who have fallen in the nation’s service.

The Miss-Lou Memorial Day walking parade will begin lineup at 8 a.m. today and will leave from the Grand Army of the Republic Post No. 23 on N. Magnolia Street in Vidalia.

The parade will cross the Mississippi River bridge before stopping for a break near the Natchez Visitor Reception Center before it continues to the Natchez National Cemetery

A remembrance program is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at the cemetery.

The roots of the parade date back to the late 1860s, when the local GAR chapters organized marches to the national cemetery for Decoration Day, the day meant to remember the Civil War’s fallen.

After World War I, the holiday became known as Memorial Day and was broadened to honor all of the nation’s war dead.