Florence National Cemetery to host Memorial Day ceremony

A Memorial Day remembrance ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Monday at Florence National Cemetery.

In 1868, Memorial Day officially was proclaimed to honor those who gave their lives in the service of their country.

The Marine Corps League Julian D. Dusenbury Detachment 410 and Florence National Cemetery staff are coordinating this year’s activities. All veterans and veteran organizations will be honored.

Gold Star Mothers, mothers of people who have lost their lives while serving on active military duty,  will be escorted by members of the Veterans Honor Guard to place the traditional ceremonial wreath at the flag pole

Maj. Gen. Irene Trowell-Harris USAF/ANG (retired), director of the veterans affairs center for women veterans, will be the guest speaker.

State Rep. Terry Alexander of Florence will serve as master of ceremonies.

Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps students from Wilson, Mullins, South and West Florence high schools will participate, as well.

The South Florence High School Choraliers, the Singsational Saints from All Saints’ Episcopal Day School and students from Florence Christian School will perform.

Johnny Powers and Keli Price will play Echo Taps.

Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress in 1971, although it’s still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays.

For details about Monday’s event, call Lynnette Parker, director of Florence National Cemetery, at (843) 669-8783 or visit http://www.cem.va.gov.

Other Memorial Day events in the Pee Dee:

Girl Scout Troop 402, the Veterans Honor Guard and other patriotic veterans and families will participate in a flag retirement ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Florence National Cemetery.

“The public is invited to this beautiful ceremony in which our nation’s symbol of freedom receives a proper salute and retirement from its tour of service,” Kathy Lewis of Troop 402 said. “The public is also urged to bring any old flags that need to be retired.”

This ceremony will take place after 7,000 flags are placed on each grave at 9 a.m. that day by Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, veterans and families.
For details, call (843) 206-1631.

The Darlington Memorial Cemetery Association also will sponsor a Memorial Day ceremony at 3 p.m. Sunday to honor 86 veterans buried in Darlington Memorial Cemetery.

The featured speaker will be Lt. Col. (retired) Frederick D. Warsaw. The public is invited.

For details, call Mary Warsaw-Capers, treasurer, at (843) 661-2358.