Memorial Day 2024

On May 27, 2024, the Mound church held its Memorial Day service.  While the crowd was down a little from previous years, a large group still turned out to honor those who gave their lives for their country.

The service opened with a reminder of what Memorial Day is: a memorial for those who died in service to country.  It is likely the holiday has its origins in 1865 when freed slaves  in Charleston, SC buried Union soldiers who had died in the prisoner of war camp and built a fence around the site.  They later held a parade and other services in memory of the dead.  The holiday was typically held on May 30 in honor of Civil War veterans, who counted as 2% of the US population.  At that time, the equivalent was the current state of Vermont.  In the modern day, this would the states of Massachusetts or Indiana.

After the First World War,  called “The War to End All Wars” in the days before we learned to number world wars, the holiday was expanded to include the dead of all wars.  The US separates honors for veterans, those who have served, from those who have given their lives.  In much of the world, Veteran’s Day, as it is known in the US, is known as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day.  It occurs on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, when hostilities ceased in the First World War.

This clip from the ending of the BBC television series “Black Adder” makes real the sacrifice behind the poem “In Flanders Field”.  It’s a low-budget comedy that takes place during the First World War.  But, even with a limited budget, shows how the horrific battlefield has been transformed today.

Local celebrity Dorothy Pearson than read John McRea’s Poem “In Flander’s Field” which he was inspired to write as a field medic during the First World War.  He was later killed during the war.

Brenda Davis reminded everyone of the local history of Memorial Day, including the death of Jean Pearl at age 32 in the closing days of the First World War.  And she discussed the origins of the service at the church.

Laci Coates then spoke on those who served locally and their sacrifices, and she listed a number of local people who gave their lives in service, some of whom are buried at the Mound Cemetery.

The service was concluded by walking out to the cemetery.  Veterans’ graves were decorated with flags and all other unadorned graves were decorated with flowers.  This has always been an integral part of this service.

The Mound Church continues to remember those who gave their lives in service annually, and all are invited.