Theme: Apt - Memorials for Memorial Day.
17A. *Cause championed by Martin Luther King, Jr. : CIVIL RIGHTS. Montgomery, Alabama
26A. *Military branch : AIR FORCE. Arlington, VA
51A. *Five-sided figure : PENTAGON. Southwest side of The Pentagon.
18D. *Bearded Mount Rushmore president : LINCOLN. Western end of the National Mall
35D. *Iconic WWII flag-raising island : IWO JIMA. Arlington National Cemetery
61A. Late-May observance, whose first word can follow each answer to a starred clue : MEMORIAL DAY
Argyle here. Moment of silence at 3:00 pm local time. A unique grid from C.C. today. A fitting tribute.
Across:
1. Barn birds : OWLS
5. "A Fish Called __":1988 Cleese film : WANDA
10. Jordan Spieth's org. : PGA. (Professional Golfers' Association) Spieth won his first major at the Masters in 2015.
13. Hair-removal brand : NAIR
14. Olympics chant : "USA! USA!"
16. Onassis nickname : ARI
19. Nintendo's Super __ : NES. (Nintendo Entertainment System)
20. Somme summer : ÉTÉ
21. "Love __ Open Door": "Frozen" duet : IS AN. If you want a listen...Link.
22. Paris tower designer : EIFFEL
24. "I __ noticed" : HADN'T
28. Archaeological artifact : RELIC
29. Cold War CIA foe : KGB. (Комите́т госуда́рственной безопа́сности)
30. Assents at sea : AYEs
31. Capital of Libya : TRIPOLI
33. Morally bad : EVIL
36. "Catch my drift?" : "SEE?"
37. On the __: escaping : LAM
38. Like steak tartare : RAW
39. Unused : NEW
42. Reverse, as a computer operation : UNDO
43. Newman song played after a Dodgers home victory : "I LOVE LA"
45. Pass up : SKIP
48. Long or Peeples : NIA. Actresses.
50. "The Grapes of Wrath" family : JOADs
54. Mottled mount : PINTO. What Little Joe used to ride.
55. Sign up : ENROLL
56. Old MacDonald's place : FARM
58. Seething state : IRE
60. Brian of ambient music : ENO. Crossword staple.
64. Org. with narcs : DEA. (Drug Enforcement Administration)
65. Buffalo NHL team : SABRES
66. "__ Dinah": Frankie Avalon hit : DEDE
67. Moth-eaten : OLD
68. Papas' partners : MAMAS
69. Vietnam neighbor : LAOS
Down:
1. __ in a blue moon : ONCE
2. "Don't move until I get back" : "WAIT HERE". (but they never do.)
3. Be habitually dishonest : LIVE A LIE
4. __ Lanka : SRI
5. German sausage : WURST
6. Japan's locale : ASIA
7. Words from a beleaguered spouse : "NAG, NAG". Ladies, your husbands will get the job done. You don't need to remind him every six months.
8. "Boy, am I dumb!" : "DUH!"
9. Daisylike flower : ASTER
10. Cook in a skillet : PAN FRY
11. Plato's country : GREECE
12. Theater walkways : AISLEs
15. "Yeah, right!" : "AS IF!"
23. Stable baby : FOAL
25. Guacamole, e.g. : DIP
27. Spain and Portugal : IBERIA
28. NFL linemen : RTs. (right tackle)
29. Japanese robe : KIMONO
32. Young fellow : LAD
34. Actor Kilmer : VAL
39. "Clever thought!" : "NEAT IDEA!"
40. Legendary city of gold : EL DORADO. Home to “The Woman in Gold"?
41. "What __ I thinking?" : WAS
42. At most : UPTO
44. Maria __ Trapp : VON. "Sound of Music" fame.
45. Skimpy swimwear brand : SPEEDO
46. Hound hotel : KENNEL
47. Damaging encroachment : INROAD
49. Break the news to : INFORM
52. Charitable gift : ALMS
53. Sparkle : GLEAM
54. Overly proper type : PRISS. Yes, I tried PRUDE first.
57. Pi r squared, for a circle : AREA
59. Baby blues : EYES
62. CEO's degree : MBA. (Master of Business Administration)
63. "Bad" cholesterol letters : LDL. (low-density lipoprotein)
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
Big Easy sent me this picture last night. He said:
"Granddaughters Jenna and Kelsey with TOBY KEITH and Jason Aldean today at the Bayou Country Superfest held in Tiger Stadium. How they got to get a picture with those two is baffling."