A Thought to Remember: Memorial Day ceremonies are about remembrance

Memorial Day celebrations of 2015 will be long remembered by all the families of those honored and all those who will attend them in Highland and in other area cemeteries.

For the city of Highland, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, plus all the men and women who have planned and gathered information, for this huge celebration, my “Tip of the Hat” to all of you. And a special “Tip” to Mayor Joe Michaelis for his foresight and planning of this wonderful dedication and Memorial Day celebration.

Be sure to attend the dedication and Memorial Day celebration at Dennis Rinderer Park on Memorial Day, Monday May 25. The parade will start from Highland High School parking lot, stepping off at 1 p.m. All veterans should meet at the parking lot at 12:30 p.m. for a ride to the services. Chairs will be available under the tent. For all others attending, please bring your folding chairs and your sun screen. See you there.

The parade will head east on Troxler Avenue and cross U.S. Highway 40 to the new Veterans Honor Parkway. Then, it’s over the new railroad bridge to the park.

At 2 p.m., there will be a dedication of the flag at the park. At 2:30 p.m., the Memorial Day ceremony begins. At 3 p.m., there will be a moment of silence for all fallen Veterans, followed by dedication of Veterans Honor Parkway and a salute to Highland’s fallen heroes.

I will be adding some information about the Civil War, which actually started the Memorial Day celebrations and decorating of the graves of soldiers of the Civil War.

Memorial Day was started by some Southern women, as they chose May 30, to decorate with flowers the graves of the Civil War soldiers. They honored the dead of both the Union and Confederate armies. After the war, in 1868, our first national Memorial Day was established by Maj. Gen. John A. Logan, the commander in chief of the newly established Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) an organization of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Later, the GAR also took in Confederate veterans, including the Highland GAR Post 437.

I will give information about other cemeteries in our area having Memorial Day Services:

▪ The Harris Cemetery, just southwest of Alhambra, will hold its annual Memorial Day services on Saturday, May 23 at 10 a.m.

▪ Burgess Cemetery in Millersburg (East Pierron) will not have a service this year.

▪ Dugger Cemetery, located at 10901 Lake Road in St. Jacob Township, rural Highland, will have a Memorial Day service on Sunday, May 24 at 4 p.m.

The lane back to the cemetery goes north, up to the front yard of the home. A sign will be in the yard where you turn right. Just past the house, you angle northeast, through an open gate, and follow the roadway up the hill and about ¼ mile to the 2 ½ acre Dugger Cemetery and parking lot.

Highland High School teacher Joel Hawkins will give the address. This will be followed by the remembering of the Veterans of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Black Hawk War and Civil War. Taps will also be played by a bugler.

▪ St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Highland will hold a service on Monday, Memorial Day, May 25. This will start with Mass at 8:30 a.m. A service with the Highland Honor Guard and a bugler will be held at 9:15 a.m.

▪ Salem Cemetery, northwest of Alhambra, will have a service on May 25, Memorial Day, morning at 10 a.m.

▪ There will be a service at Highland City Cemetery on Monday May 25 at 9:45 a.m. that will include the Highland Honor Guard and a bugler.

▪ Grantfork services this year will be on Monday, May 25 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Gertrude Catholic Cemetery on South Mulberry Street. The Highland Honor Guard will also participate in this ceremony.

Thanks veterans for making Memorial Weekend a time to remember.

This story was originally published May 20, 2015 at 10:53 AM with the headline "A Thought to Remember: Memorial Day ceremonies are about remembrance."