Reisterstown Ceremony Honors Those Lost On Memorial Day
REISTERSTOWN, Md. (WJZ) -- Three years after the Civil War left over 600,000 Americans dead, the survivors began formally remembering those who gave their lives.
As WJZ's Mike Schuh reports, some of those men are buried in the community cemetery in Reisterstown.
There are veterans buried here from Vietnam, Korea, World War I, World War II, the Civil War, the War of 1812 and the American Revolution.
What a fitting place then to honor those who have served our country.
The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War organized this remembrance -- small and intimate. They say it's similar to what would have been seen 147 years ago.
After the speeches, a wreath is placed to remember all 37 soldiers who lie here.
Then the people of Reisterstown are asked to place a flower on the graves of the other 36 soldiers.
Danielle Bradshaw-Lee prays at a stone -- so old -- it's barely legible.
"Yeah I can't even read the dates on this, it's 17-something, but Joseph Mideri fought for our country," Bradshaw-Lee said.
"We need to remember, we need to thank those who didn't come home," she added. "You know we do great on Veterans Day, but I don't think we do as well on Memorial Day. We really need to thank the ones who didn't make it back."
Before it was known as Memorial Day, Decoration Day began 147 years ago.