Memorial Day Parade

May 25, 2009



Once again we have the privilege to march in the Memorial Day parades for New Gloucester and Gray, Maine. On one hand, Memorial Day is a wonderful celebration where the public is able to salute our troops (both retired and active) properly, yet, on the other hand it is a mournful event to remember those who have fallen, both on and off the battle fields.




We then went to the Stranger's Grave in Gray. I am sure you have heard of it if you have read the past two Memorial Day blogs, but just as a refresher: A family in Gray had the money to bring their fallen son back from fighting in the south where he was killed. When the casket came, it was a young man in confederate grey. While the family was devastated, they still decided that the young man should still have a proper burial. Eventually the body of the correct young man was returned to Gray, however, the unknown Confederate remains in the cemetery and each Memorial Day we remember this young man who found himself wrapped up in a bloody war that cost him his life.

As always, remember Memorial Day is just one day, but a day that should span the other 364 of a year. Never forget the retired, the active, the young, the old, the fallen, or the past, they protect our ideals and to them, it is more then just a job.

Next: Norlands.

Memorial Day Parade

May 26, 2008

For the 15th Alabama, honoring the veterans and sacrifice comes twice in one day. We actually participate in two parades, New Gloucester and Gray, ME.

New Gloucester, Maine
From left to right; Charlene (Charly that day), Mike, Chris, Tom, Ben, Dave.

Our ladies, from left to right; Sandy (as the widow), Kate and Sara.

And here is our Memorial Day salute.

Now, on to...
Gray, Maine.


Now what we really find interesting in Gray, ME is, there is a Confederate soldier buried there. A family up there had the money to send for the body of their fallen son in order to give him a burial in Gray. Well, the casket arrived, but it was the body of an unknown Confederate soldier. The mother was horrified (what mother would not be?) but she decided that she would give this young man a proper burial in the hopes that some mother in the South would do the same for her son.

In the end, the correct body was located and the son of Gray was returned to his family. However, the unknown Confederate remained and a few years later, a group of ladies erected a proper headstone for the boy because after all, it was not a war of good verses evil, it was, a war of brother fighting brother.

In any conflict or war, we must always remember the living, the wounded and the fallen because every one of those men and women who go out to fight or support the soldiers deserve so much more appreciation than we give most of the time. When I was younger, I thought of Memorial Day as a day to remember the fallen, but as I grew older, I realized that the ones who never returned home because they died, were not the only ones that stayed behind. Every single person who has seen war, will carry that through the rest of their lives. They all gave up a little piece of themselves, whether tangible or not, to protect us, to maintain our ideals. And that happens all over the world. So, do not forget the the deceased, but also remember the ones who came home, they are just as important, and the 15th Alabama as a company and individually is honored that we are able to participate in these parades. To all of those warriors, past, present, future, in person or in spirit...thank you.

Thank you so much for my freedom.

~

Memorial Day

May 28th, 2007

Unfortunately, this being my first parade, I didn't take any photos. It was very nice, though, we actually did two parades.

New Gloucester, Maine started bright and early (not some people's favorite time of the day). It was my first opportunity to wear a hoop skirt. I must say, hoop skirts are not as annoying as one would think. I did have to learn to maneuver it a little, but once I did that I actually like wearing it! Besides, I got to wear my pretty blue dress instead of my, rather plain, camp dress. Well, it was a fun parade (I felt a little strange about being in the parade, theater was never my best class). Then our group fired a salute after the speech at the end of the parade. Thank goodness for parasols! Thank you to Dave's mother for getting me one! I almost didn't bring it, but it was a lifesaver on the walk back to the cars! Also, Dave and Mike looked rather fetching strolling along, each holding a parasol! I really wish I had had a camera then.

Gray, Maine: Now, it was getting hot. It was about noon and the sun was rising in the sky like a flaming ball of death (wait...). As the parade wore on, I experienced the interesting sensation of feeling the heat from the road coming up under the hoop. As we were lining up, we noticed that there were people from the New Gloucester parade lining up, too. We waved. We then wound our way to a town building in the center of Gray where we stood nearest the Civil War memorial and also saluted with gunfire during this ceremony.

After the parade(s) and the ceremony we all went as a group to the stranger's grave in the Gray, Maine cemetary. Apparently, during the Civil War a young local man was killed in action. His family paid the fee to have his body returned to them for a proper burial, but when they opened the casket, it was a Confederate soldier with no name. Well, the mother of the deceased Union soldier decided to give this young man, so far from home, a decent burial in the hopes that someone would do the same for her son, also so far away from home. Eventually, the Union solder's remains were returned to his mother and she properly buried him, however some local ladies erected a headstone for the Confederate's grave intoning the belief that despite the fact that war is begun and fought for principle's, death is sure to follow.

Stranger's Grave on google