Not many people are aware that the Civil War Memorial in downtown Crossville is one of only two in the country that includes both Union and Confederate Veterans on the same memorial.
Cumberland Co. Civil War Memorial is one of only 2 in
the entire country that includes both Union and
Confederate soldiers name.
Memorial Day was originally recognized as Decoration Day in years after the Civil War as a time to remember the soldiers who died during the war. Eventually, it was changed to Memorial Day and made a Federal Holiday in 1971.
The local Sons of the Confederate Veterans Hamby Camp 1750 have put flags in front of the memorial for each Cumberland Co. resident in the Civil War. According to the SCV 189 flags have been placed.
The sprinkles of rain were not enough to drive off any of the crowd of those who gathered for the 2017 Memorial Day ceremony at the Downtown Crossville Memorial and Veterans Park. WIth chairs set up both in the street and over half of the north side courthouse lawn many came to pay their respects to those who lost their lives in the service of their country's military.
Memorial Day crowd in Downtown Crossville
Before the program began, the Cumberland Co. Community Band provided a selection of patriotic music.
Cumberland Co. Community Band plays
Stars and Stripes
Retired Master Chief Mike Dibiccaro, USN served as master of ceremonies and an invocation was provided by Pastor Andrew Abraham. The colors were presented by the Vietnam Veterans of America Honor Guard and Ms. Teri Utsey sang the National Anthem.
Color Guard ready
Color Guard marches in
Teri Utsey sings the National Anthem
Singing of the National Anthem
Remarks were made by Crossville Mayor James Maybery and Cumberland Co. Mayor Ken Carey.
Crossville Mayor James Mayberry
The guest speaker was TTU History Professor Dr. Michael Birdwell who spoke on Tennessee's involvement in the First World War
Historian Dr. Michael Birdwell shared information
about Tennesseans in WWI including Crossville's
Milo Lemmert.
Following the reading of names a call and answer version of Taps was played.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America. Over two dozen cities and towns claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it’s difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day.
Regardless of the exact date or location of its origins, one thing is clear – Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead. It was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11. “The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land,” he proclaimed. The date of Decoration Day, as he called it, was chosen because it wasn’t the anniversary of any particular battle.
A respectful crowd took part in a special Memorial Day program held in the Crossville Outlet Mall on Saturday afternoon. The featured speaker was Cumberland County Sheriff Casey Cox. Cox spoke about heroes and heroism, the sacrifice made by soldiers who lost their lives in battle and addressed the young people in the crowd by telling the story of local Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Alvin C. York.
Also participating in the program was Patrick Taylor, a Vietnam War veteran and former Navy Medic. Taylor spoke on the history and significance of Memorial Day and led the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Crossville Chapter 1050 of the Vietnam Veterans Color Guard presented the colors with an honor guard of local Boy and Girl Scouts.
A time for questions included an explanation of why the flag is folded the way that it is with the triangle representing the three cornered hat of the Revolutionary War soldiers.
