Wicomico County Memorial Day service

Back on Monday, Wicomico County conducted its annual Memorial Day service. Before the federal government reworked the observation calendar to ensure Memorial Day would culminate a three-day weekend, Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30th; hence the post today.

For the last five years I have attended the Wicomico ceremony and it hasn't deviated from a set format. The only things which seemingly change are the number of names read (this year we added one name to the list of Wicomico County's fallen in battle, bringing it to 188 since World War I), and the number of people attending - which also seems to increase.

As always, former County Councilman Anthony Sarbanes served as the master of ceremonies. It was while he served on Wicomico County Council that the Memorial was dedicated, in 2002.

After brief remarks, we had an Invocation and singing of our National Anthem, along with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Then the colors were lowered and various family members of recently fallen veterans, the surviving veterans attending, and elected representatives were recognized.

At that point, each military branch had its prayer read aloud.

The program maintained tradition at this point as a bell was tolled prior to reading the rank and name of each of those who perished in their respective engagements, beginning with World War I through Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 188 ranks and names are read by Ed Tattersall.

After the names have been read, the program immediately shifts to "Amazing Grace", played by this lone bagpiper.

Following the playing of the traditional hymn, the silence is broken by a volley of arms saluting those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

To close the proceedings, we hear the playing of "Taps" and a Benediction.

Obviously there is a little bit of upkeep involved in maintaining the Veterans Memorial at the Civic Center, so there's a donation box placed out each year to help out.

As I noted, the proceedings don't change from year to year. One oddity of scheduling which occurs annually is that the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center simultaneously hosts a large youth wrestling tounament on Memorial Day weekend each year. I found it fitting then that the Navy brought a recruitment trailer this year to see how these wrestlers stack up to Navy SEALs in their training.

To leave, I'll put up a statement about Maryland's valor which dates back over 200 years.