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In Remembrance of THEM
Commemorative Memorial Day Services will be
offered to the public at the Big Bear Lake Veterans Park, Monday, May 28, 2018,
beginning at 11:00 A.M.
The United States Veterans, Families and
Friends are welcome to join others for this memorable occasion to give tribute
to those who’ve served and passed. All
current and past military personnel are welcome to participate in the
procession and ceremony.
U.S. Marine Corps League #1038 and the American Legion Post #584 Honor Guard Color
Guard, at specifically 11:00 A.M. will present the American Flag and the Armed Services Flags. The bugle will sound the ‘Taps’ to proclaim the long-established
tradition of remembering those who died in wars throughout the years, on this Memorial
Day, the last Monday in May.
Participating in the traditional somber
service in honor of those who have served in the U.S. Armed Services and have
passed away will be:
City of Big Bear Lake Mayor Rick Herrick
will speak of the importance of all Americans to take time on this special day
to remember those who have defended our country and ‘gave all’ for our freedom.
USAF retired Major Nelson Reynolds will return to the Big Bear Lake ceremony to
set the tone with a patriotic bagpipe rendition. Also, on the program will be, Captain Karen
Anne Holliday, Senator Michael Morrell Field Representative Joshua Monzon,
Reverend Tom Goodman, Big Bear High School Singers Voice
Male and the Chick-A-Pellas.
In
the United States the idea of a designated day to remember those Veterans that
died in the War, took root just after the end of the Civil War. On April 25, 1866, a group of women visited a
cemetery in Columbus, Mississippi to decorate the graves of
Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Nearby were the graves
of Union soldiers, neglected because they had been the
enemy. The women were disturbed at the sight of these bare unmoored
graves, so they placed some of their flowers on those graves as well.
A
few days later, on May 5, 1866, the people of Waterloo, New
York closed their business, dipped their flags
to half-mast and decorated their village to remember the
Soldiers from Waterloo who had died during the Civil War.
This was later recognized as our nation’s first Memorial Day
ceremony.
We are most grateful to the City of Big Bear Lake, the U.S. Marine Corps League #1038, the American Legion Post #584 Honor Guard,
and the Women’s Auxiliary American
Legion Post #584 for making the Memorial Day 2018 plus many previous Veterans commemoration events
and arrangements, possible at the beautiful Veterans Park located on Big Bear
Boulevard and Knickerbocker Road.
By E T Russell, May 2018
