Heroes to be honored at Memorial Day ceremonies in Maury County
Memorial Day on Monday marks the unofficial beginning of summer.
Schools are out; swimming pools are open; little league teams are playing. People will polish their golf clubs, dust their fishing poles, and find their tennis rackets.
The parks are full of parents entertaining their children with swings, and slides, and picnics. Farmers watch the weather forecast every day because the hay is waiting to be cut. Farmers who planted corn or soybeans can almost see the crops growing. Coincidentally stores everywhere offer wonderful bargains for their Memorial Day sales.
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In the midst of the activities, the original meaning of Memorial Day is sometimes overlooked.
The original title, Decoration Day, was used before and after the Civil War.
In fact, decorating soldiers’ graves is an ancient custom.
In the United States, that day was set aside to tend to cemeteries and to place flowers on graves. In that era everywhere, even in Maury County, were small family or community cemeteries, and the families with loved ones buried there considered caring for the cemetery a special obligation. Even now, the Carter’s Creek community meets at Lasting Hope Cemetery for a business meeting, but it's still called Decoration Day.
Legend says that when southern women met to decorate the graves of their fallen heroes in the 1860s, they also decorated the graves of Union soldiers. According to historical accounts, more than 25 cities claim to have had the first Decoration Day.
In 1971, Congress standardized Memorial Day as the last Monday in May. Maury County has traditionally observed Memorial Day with flags flying prominently on the way into town.
The Herbert Griffin Post of the American Legion Post 19 is one group devoted to preserving Memorial Day traditions.
The post is named for Corporal Herbert Griffin who was born at Darks Mill and died in France on July 18, 1918 when he was 21.
The 40 & 8 designation comes from WW I when the train cars were able to transport 40 men or eight horses. American flags are placed on each soldier’s grave in Rose Hill Cemetery on Thursday afternoon preceding Memorial Day. The Ladies Auxiliary has carried on the tradition for many years.
The monuments at the courthouse compose the Veterans’ Memorial Plaza.
A special plaque pays tribute to Commander General William Potts, soldier, leader and humanitarian. Other monuments honor those from Maury County who lost their lives defending America.
The list on the monument enclosed with a fence begins with WW I, and continues with WW II, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada-Lebanon, Panama Canal and the Persian Gulf.
The inscription reads: “Honoring all who served and in everlasting memory of those from Maury County who made the supreme sacrifice.” The Gold Star Memorial stands on the lawn too. The inscription states: “A tribute to Gold Star families whose loved one paid the ultimate price defending the United States of America.” The broken column reflects the sense of loss we must feel for those heroes.
The monuments on the other side of the courthouse list individual names and the wars in which their lives were lost.
Wreath-laying ceremonies
On Memorial Day, American Legion members will have two wreath-laying ceremonies.
9 a.m. ceremony
At the courthouse near the large monument at 9 a.m. will be placed a red, white, and blue wreath. The next wreath-laying will be at the John Harlan Willis Bridge on the Nashville Highway.
Harlan Willis, a Navy hospital corpsman pharmacist first mate stationed on Iwo Jima, cared for the wounded rescuing Marines. Although he was wounded and ordered back to the aid station, he kept assisting his comrades. As they were bombarded with grenades, he began to toss the grenades back, according to county historical accounts. He saved many lives by returning eight grenades but lost his own when the ninth grenade exploded in his hand. He was killed instantly on February 28, 1945.
10 a.m. ceremony
After these wreaths are placed, the American Legion members will go to the Memorial Day celebration at 10 a.m. at Polk Memorial Gardens. For over 30 years, a reflective ceremony has been held in the back west corner of the cemetery called The Arbors. This gathering will feature a guest speaker, a bagpiper, singers, and musicians. Refreshments are served by the staff. Several hundred are expected.
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At Pine Crest cemetery near Neapolis, there will be a ceremony similar to that at Polk Memorial. A flag presentation will be done by the Central High School ROTC. After the pledge to the flag and welcoming remarks, there will be a speaker and special music and refreshments. The gathering has become a traditional part of Memorial Day in Maury County.
On Memorial Day, citizens may wear a small red poppy made of paper to honor those who have lost their lives in war.
Sometimes veterans will distribute the poppies, and in turn, receive a small donation. Red poppies, symbolizing bloodshed, grew widely in Europe after WW I because the minerals left by war enriched the soil.
The poem “In Flanders Fields” by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrane, M.D., was written while he served on the front lines in 1915. The opening lines are “In Flanders Field, the poppies blow, between the crosses, row on row…”
This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Sheila Hickman: Celebrate summer and honor heroes
