Memorial Day -- Civil War Sesquicentennial

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" ~ John 15:13

On this Memorial Day may we remember the military men and women who have laid down their life for us, so that we may live free.

May we also remember all who serve today, and those who have come home wounded and maimed.

We owe them a great debt and our greatest respect.

Remembering their great sacrifice.

All of the photos above were taken at the Korean War Memorial at Brighton Park (where Park Place meets the Boardwalk) in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Two brothers, one Union (left) , one Confederate (right), mortally wounded at the same battle at Petersburg, Virginia, and laid to rest side by side in Green-Wood Cemetery. New Federal issue gravestones were erected through the Green-Wood Civil War Project to augment the original gravestones, which are now illegible from weather damage. This year marks the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, and there will be special remembrances, countrywide, to honor the men lost in that war.

Green-Wood Cemetery -- Memorial Day 2007

Memorial Day begun as a ritual of remembrance and reconciliation after the Civil War. One hundred and fifty years ago, on April 12, 1861, at 4:30 a.m., secessionist batteries surrounding Fort Sumter began their artillery bombardment of Union forces, and the Civil War had begun.
If you are in the vicinity of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, this weekend you should make an effort to attend at least one of the two day memorial services that will take place to honor the more than 4,500 identified Civil War Veterans, both Union and Confederate, that are buried there. Volunteers have marked the graves of all the veterans with American flags and luminaries.  On Sunday evening there will be a Calvary horse procession, led by Civil War re-enactors, past the candle lit graves as musicians and singers perform Civil War songs. On Monday there will be a march to the major Civil War Soldiers Lot and descendants of Civil War soldiers buried in Green-Wood Cemetery will read the names of their ancestors. Ceremonies include artillery rifle salutes and musical tributes.

Both events will be very memorable!