Memorial Day Ceremony
Written by broebling on May 24, 2018
Press Release – The custom of honoring ancestors by cleaning cemeteries and decorating graves is an ancient and worldwide tradition, but the specific origin of Memorial Day, or Decoration Day is not a totally clear path. In early rural America, this duty of cleaning the cemetery was usually performed in late summer when families would reunite for reunions and picnics. After the Civil War America’s need for a patriotic ceremony to honor its military dead became prominent. Monuments to fallen soldiers were dedicated, and ceremonies centering on the decorated soldier’s grave were held in towns and cities throughout the nation. After World War One Memorial Day was expanded to recognize all who died in all American wars.
During World War One after the battles had ceased it was the duties of the remaining soldiers to bury the fallen soldiers and honor their service to their nation. The cemeteries were torn up from the battles and placement of the new graves. The red field poppy was one of the first plants to grow, its seeds scattered in the wind and sat dormant in the ground, only germinating in the war torn fields. Wearing of poppies was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written in 1915 by Canadian Lt. John McCrae from the poppy filled fields surrounding his artillery position in Belgium. Today, poppies are both the symbol of loss of life and a symbol of recovery and new life, especially in support of those servicemen who were damaged both physically and emotionally.
The wearing of poppies in honor of America’s war dead is traditionally done on Memorial Day. The origin of the red poppy as a modern-day symbol of this day was actually the idea of an American woman, Miss Moina Michael.
Schedule of Events:
Placing Flags on Graves at Mt Pisgah Cemetery @ 7:00am
Breakfast at Post Home @ 7:30am
Memorial Day Ceremony Mt Pisgah @ 11:00am
Pick up Flags @ 4:00pm
Memorial Day Ceremony:
Memorial Day Ceremonies hosted by the American Legion Post 42 and VFW Post 7756 will be held at Mt Pisgah Cemetery on 28 May 2017. This year Memorial Ceremony will be held in the newly dedicated gardens at Mt Pisgah Cemetery Garden at the top of the hill.
The ceremony is to remember veterans from previous conflicts, and thank military persons who are currently serving. The ceremony lasts about 30 minutes allowing much time to visit grave sites on this day which was set aside to remember our departed veterans, friends and relatives.