Our Flag does not fly because the wind blows it;
It flies with the last breath of
every Soldier who died defending it.
Author unknown
Memorial Day celebrations at cemeteries date back to the late 1800s; most records indicate the day was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers by proclamation of Gen. John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of former Union sailors and soldiers. Originally called Decoration Day, the day became a national holiday in 1971.
This longtime tradition, now observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died in the military service. In observance, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers often place American flags on gravesites. Traditionally, a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time. And in many localities, parades are held featuring past and current veterans.
Most visible, perhaps, are the ceremonies held at Arlington National Ceremony, where the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment places American flags at the gravesites of fallen service members just before Memorial Day. This tradition, known as “flags in,” has taken place every year since 1948.
There, flags are placed in front of more than 228,000 headstones, at the bottom of about 7,000 niche rows in the cemetery, and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Cemeteries nationwide have chosen Memorial Day to celebrate families and remember the fallen. Some, with historic graves or war memorial statues, may incorporate those memorials into the event. Graves are often decorated with flowers, flags, and wreaths, and speakers honor those who have served in many conflicts. Some venues feature 21-gun salutes.
Even cemeteries without military graves may choose Memorial Day as a special day of remembrance. These events are excellent ways to showcase your cemetery’s features.
No matter what the event or celebration, OpusXenta’s Task Manager feature (in its byondcloud software) can make preparation easier for the entire cemetery team.
The operations team can plan events and show assigned work orders on simple dashboards, making it easy to track and manage work. In tandem, the office team can view the progress of work orders inside the booking system and easily update the operations team with changes in service requests.
Task Manager improves the efficiency of grounds teams by sharing information—and changes—quickly and seamlessly, thereby reducing errors.
Now that the world is largely back to post-pandemic activity, it’s likely families will be seeking Memorial Day events to celebrate and remember their loved ones—as well as those who fought for freedoms. Prepare to welcome families back and share the wonders of your cemetery with many generations.