Ladies' Memorial Association

MEMORIAL DAY 2009

The 143rd Memorial Day Observance in the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery by the Ladies' Memorial Association of Fredericksburg, Virginia, will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, May 25, 2009.

The event will begin with Massing of the Colors by the Confederate reenactment groups and Boy Scout Troop 179, Fairview Baptist Church.

The speaker will be Fredericksburg historian Dennis Edward Sacrey, First Vice President of the Virginia Baptist Historical Society. His topic -- "Remembering the Fallen: A Social Evolution."

A highlight of the day will be “Bring Flowers, Pale Flowers“, the traditional strewing of petals by descendants and friends of Ladies' Memorial Association members.

Following the Volley by the Confederate reenactment groups , taps will be played by Roy Barton Perry, Jr., 1st Lt. Commander and Camp Musician, Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Wreaths will be on display by Confederate organizations including the Fredericksburg Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy; the Lucy Ann Cox Chapter, Order of Southern Gray; the Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans;; the Military Order of the Stars and Bars; the Nannie Seddon Barney Chapter, Children of the Confederacy; and other descendants of Confederate veterans.

For further information, call 540-373-5177. The audience may bring chairs or blankets for seating.

In case of rain, the program will be held in the Free Lance-Star Community Room, 616 Amelia St.

A parade by the Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans, will precede the 10 a.m. ceremonies in the Cemetery. The parade will begin on Barton St. where the Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp recently placed a monument to the Confederate dead. The parade marchers will continue across William St, to Amelia St. to the gate of the Cemetery.

"And the Sage's Book and the Poet's Lay
are full of the Deeds of the Men in Gray"

A look back at the 2008 Memorial Day celebration. Thanks to "Big French" for the pictures of the day's events.

Barbara Crookshanks, President of the Ladies' Memorial Association, welcomes guests to the 142nd observance of Memorial Day in the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery.	The Reverend Gary Staddan, pastor of the First Christian Church, gives the invocation. LMA member Mary Peden Spano is at the left.	Lou Silvey, Vice President of the Ladies' Memorial Association, introduces our speaker, Edwin Watson.
Members of the Ladies' Memorial Association listen as Edwin Watson, President and CEO of the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center, tells the story of artist John Elder who is buried in the cemetery.	Members of Boy Scout Troop 179 bow their heads in prayer. Troop 179 has participated in our Memorial Day Observances for many years.	A crowd of local and out-of-town guests gathered for Memorial Day ceremonies.
Dressed in white with red ribbons, children continue the annual tradition of strewing petals around the Confederate monument.	Roy B. Perry, R. of Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans once again plays taps.	The Confederate re-enactment groups climax Memorial Day 2008 ceremonies with their traditional volley.
Confederate organizations placed wreaths in memory of their Southern ancestors.