As flags are put out around cemeteries this week in tribute to fallen soldiers, Tallahassee marks another Memorial Day with solemn ceremonies.
At 3 p.m. Monday, May 25, the National Moment of Remembrance is observed to honor those who died as a result of service to the nation. The Moment was first proclaimed in May 2000 for Memorial Day that year, and was put into law by the United States Congress in December 2000.
As Tallahassee pauses to honor the lives lost and sacrifices made in service to country on Memorial Day, here’s a look at what’s planned, gathered from organization websites, emails and elsewhere.
Tallahassee National Cemetery
The Memorial Day Observance will be held at the Tallahassee National Cemetery, 5015 Apalachee Parkway, from 10-11 a.m. Saturday, May 23. A formal community and military tribute will honor fallen service members.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3308
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3308 will hold its annual Memorial Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25, at the VFW Cemetery on the corner of Fox Road and Old Blair Road (take Rivers Road off Crawfordville Road to Fox Road).
This year’s ceremony is scheduled to include a bagpiper, a singer, a drum and fife group, a bugler, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Color Guard.
“Like any memorial ceremony, it is only as good as the audience,” Frank Roycraft, USMC Ret., Commander of VFW Post 3308, noted in an email. “That’s why we are asking our members, their families and friends, and other patriotic citizens to join us as we pay tribute to those who died in service to the United States of America.”
This year’s event will run for about half an hour. Refreshments at the post afterwards.
Greenwood Cemetery
Congressman Al Lawson will once again be hosting the annual posting of flags at Greenwood Cemetery, 1601 Old Bainbridge Road, in recognition of Memorial Day at 9 a.m. Monday, May 25.
In addition to Lawson, the event will include the Buffalo Soldiers, Tallahassee’s 100 Black Men, State Representative Allison Tant, Leon County Commissioners, Tallahassee City Commissioners, and many other local and state lawmakers, judges, and candidates.
The Greenwood Cemetery was established in 1937 by Tallahassee’s Black community when they were shut out of the city-owned cemeteries. While the city had designated an alternative site, the land was too low-lying to be used as a burial ground. Initially, family members were responsible for the upkeep of the sites; however, as those family members moved or passed away themselves, the cemetery became run-down and overgrown.
In 1985, a group of citizens undertook a two-year effort to clean up the cemetery, survey the damaged gravesites, and secure ongoing maintenance from the city, who now owns the property.
In use for almost 90 years, those interred at Greenwood include approximately 300 veterans whose service spans from World War I through today. These veterans were largely forgotten as the cemetery was not regularly included in observances of Memorial Day until 2019, when Congressman Lawson and community volunteers began this flag laying tradition. The event has grown every year and continues to honor our local heroes and spread awareness of the historic site.
American Legion, Sauls-Bridges Post 13
American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13 at Lake Ella, where Memorial Day is “more than a date on the calendar,” will have its annual Memorial Day observance at 11 a.m. Monday, May 25. The ceremony will be held at the historic Oakland Cemetery, 838 North Bronough St. Arrive by 10:45 a.m. Be there early to get seating. Enter cemetery from Brevard Street entrance. Service will conclude at noon.
Leon County will be honoring and supporting local veterans by participating in the formal ceremony organized by the American Legion at Oakland Cemetery.
Leon County flags
For the 11th consecutive year, Leon County Government will honor fallen U.S. military service members by placing wreaths at memorials throughout the community on Friday, May 22, in observance of Memorial Day.
The following are the locations the county will place wreaths:
As part of the County’s ongoing commitment to honoring and supporting local veterans, the County will participate in a formal ceremony organized by the American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13 on Monday, May 25, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will take place at Oakland Cemetery, located at 838 North Bronough Street.
Leon County’s Operation Thank You Commemorative Wreath Program was launched in 2015 to honor the fallen soldiers of the community by placing wreaths at local monuments and memorials every year for Memorial Day.
City, county Memorial Day holiday closures
Leon County announced the following closures and service changes in observance of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 25.
Leon County offices, libraries, community centers, Leon County Animal Control and Leon County Solid Waste and Household Hazardous Waste Center will be closed.
Leon County Parks and Recreation facilities (parks, greenways, campgrounds, and boat landings) remain open.
All LeRoy Collins Leon County Public Library branches will close on Saturday, May 23, at 4 p.m. The downtown Main Library will close on Sunday, May 24, at 6 p.m. All libraries will resume normal operating hours on Tuesday, May 26.
The Solid Waste Management Center on Apalachee Parkway will close on Saturday, May 23, at 5 p.m. and will resume normal operating hours on Tuesday, May 26.
Residential waste collection routes will be delayed by one day for citizens whose normal pick-up day is during the holiday.
In the event of an animal-related emergency, service is available by calling the Consolidated Dispatch Agency at 850-606-5800. Leon County Animal Control encourages residents to only use this service to report dangerous or aggressive dogs, sick or injured domestic animals, and animal cruelty. Injured wildlife calls will be forwarded to the St. Francis Wildlife Association at 850-627-4151.
The City of Tallahassee’s administrative offices will be closed in observance of the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 25.
During the holiday week, all residential customers will receive garbage and recycling service one day later than regularly scheduled.
StarMetro, the City’s mass transit system, will operate on a Sunday schedule with no night service for the holiday on Monday, May 25. Dial-A-Ride will operate from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the Call Center will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit Talgov.com/StarMetro or call 850-891-5200.
The Animal Service Center will be closed on Monday, May 25. Normal hours will resume on Tuesday, May 26, with the center opening at 10 a.m. for appointments and from 1-5 p.m. for walk-in kennel viewings.
Community centers operated by the City of Tallahassee Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department will be closed Monday, May 25. Centers will resume normal hours on Tuesday, May 26.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Flags and bagpipes: A guide to Tallahassee’s Memorial Day ceremonies
Reporting by Martha Gruender, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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