Chesterfield: Memorial Day ceremony, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier replica unveiling
CHESTERFIELD — Looking for a Memorial Day event to attend? You will not want to miss the program held on the lawn of the historic 1917 Chesterfield County Courthouse.
Special for this year’s ceremony hosted/sponsored by the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia will be the unveiling of a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington National Cemetery’s most iconic memorial.
According to Ruth Snead, Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia member and Memorial Day program chair, Arlington National Cemetery granted permission and provided true dimensions of the real tomb.
Since 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has provided a final resting place for one of America's unidentified World War I service members. In 1958 and 1984, other Unknowns from later wars were added. The neoclassical, white marble sarcophagus stands atop a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. It serves as a site for reflection on military service and as a place of mourning.
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Arlington National Cemetery: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier replica
Two siblings with Chesterfield County General Services worked together to create the replica. Both of Matoaca, Ed Humphries built it, and Joann Cecil painted it.
"I was very proud to be picked to build and be a part of such a wonderful memorial," Humphries said. "It took me about 40 hours to build. My sister and I are both happy to have worked on the project."
The keynote speaker is Col. Stephan Ruppel-Lee, U.S. Army, an Army veteran who most recently served with the 29th Infantry Division in Kuwait.
Ruppel-Lee, who in addition to his time deployed in the Middle East, has also conducted overseas operations in Germany, Korea and Estonia and has been awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Department of the Army Staff Badge, Combat Infantrymen’s Badge, Expert Infantrymen’s Badge, Ranger Tab and Airborne wings.
Along with his deployments, Ruppel-Lee also spent 18 months as the Commander of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and will speak to that experience during his address.
During the ceremony, there will be a live reenactment of the changing of the guard by the Chesterfield County Sheriff Honor Guard. Banners of fallen soldiers will also be presented and the historic Courthouse bell will toll in their memory.
"We invite the public to join us on Memorial Day to honor our fallen heroes," Snead said.
The ceremony will be Monday, May 29 at 2 p.m. at 10011 Iron Bridge Rd. in Chesterfield. If Mother Nature decides to create inclement weather, the event will be held indoors at the Exhibition Hall, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Building, at the Chesterfield County Fairgrounds located at 10300 Courthouse Road in Chesterfield.
The amazing replica, a smaller version than the original, is a must-see work of art. Follow Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Chesterfield Memorial Day program: Tomb of the Unknown Soldier replica
