Memorial Day is observed in numerous communities in rural Southern Illinois where patriotic feeling runs strong. From here, many sons and daughters have gone out to fight America's wars, up through the present-day war in the Middle East, and some have not come back. Southern Illinoisans will be out honoring America's war dead this Memorial Day 2009 at various special events.
In fact, Southern Illinois is one of those places which claims to have originated Memorial Day, then called Decoration Day, with a ceremony at Woodlawn Cemetery in Carbondale on April 29, 1866. On that date, 219 Civil War veterans marched to the cemetery where the principal address was given by Major General John A. Logan, a political appointee who turned out to be a good general unlike many,serving under Grant at Shiloh and on other battlefields.
The following list of activities should by no means be considered complete.
May 23 Memorial Day (Pulaski Co). 10am, at Mounds City National Cemetery. On the program: the national anthem, pledge of allegiance, lowering of the flag, invocation, guest speakers, laying of the wreath, benediction, rifle and canon salute, and Taps. Civil war reenacters featured. Mounds City.
May 23-25 Memorial Weekend Festival (St Clair Co). Beilleville 618-233-0513
May 24 Avenue of Flags. (Fayette Co). Vandalia. 618-283-0832
May 25. Nashville (Washington Co.). Open-air ceremony with a speaker, honor guard, wreath-laying, volley fire with bugler, music by high school band. At Nashville Memorial Park at 11am. Bring lawn chairs. In case of rain, it will be held at American Legion Home located in the park. The main street through downtown Nashville will be lined with flags. Nashville.
May 25. Belleville Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony (St Clair Co). A Memorial Day Parade through downtown Belleville starts at 10am, followed by a ceremony at Walnut Hill cemetery. Sponsored by VFW Post 359. Belleville. 618-233-6769
May 25 Highland Lion's Club Memorial Day 5K Biathlon (Madison Co). Annual event begins and ends at Lindenthal Park. Highland.
May 25 Olney Memorial Day Parade (Richland Co). Route: VFW Hall to Haven Hill Cemetery on North Walnut Street. Olney. 618-392-2241
May 25 Alton Memorial Day Parade (Madison Co). Starts at 10am at Washington and College Avenues in Upper Alton. Continuous since 1868. Alton. 618-462-7527.
For more special events in Southern Illinois, check out the Southern Illinois Road Trip website at http://home.midwest.net/~howes/southernillinoisroadtrip/.
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