Local downtowns and shopping centers were booming this weekend. Sidewalks were crowded and parking spots were at a premium.

Sure, there were lots of sales going on. That’s always the case on federal holidays, as national chains have long known that a holiday means people off work, meaning free time on hand.

Memorial Day events, including the groundbreaking of the Heroes Memorial in Kyle, were crowded as hundreds of people showed up. Friends who had not seen each other in more than a year wer...