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Local area pays tribute to those who gave all
Ceremonies honor war veterans on Memorial Day
Date published: 5/27/2008
New Yorker's stop led him to memorial event James McIlvain was on a tour from New York to the Outer Banks with his wife when the bus made a scheduled stop in Fredericksburg. The 85-year-New Yorker decided to attend the Memorial Day Observance at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. He was the only World War II veteran at the ceremony. "Memorial Day means everything: the Constitution and all that it implies," McIlvain said. The 142nd Memorial Day Observance drew a standing-room-only crowd as people gathered atop the cemetery hill overlooking the 15,300 graves of soldiers. Each was marked with a miniature American flag. The keynote speaker, retired Maj. Gen. Thomas Cleland, recognized veterans from all wars by asking them to stand. The former commander of the New York Guard spoke about the importance of remembering "the blood, sweat and tears of those who secured the treasures of freedom." He read a passage from the journal of Gen. William T. Sherman that included "War is hell but a necessary evil to preserve our freedom and those of others." Cleland mentioned the importance of freedom for open debate without fear or threat in the election year. He concluded by saying the most important thing Americans can do is support the young men and women sent into harm's way. Donald C. Pfanz, staff historian for Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park, discussed the history of the cemetery's Memorial Day program. The tradition began with the local African-American community and later became a "stage of reconciliation between former enemies." Pfanz emphasized that Memorial Day has changed over the years but it remains personal. "We've all been touched by war," he said. Fred Whetzel, a Fredericksburg resident and veteran of the Korean and Vietnam wars, put it simply: "Memorial Day is about remembrance. We always want to remember our fallen heroes." --Megan Williams Civil War significant, speaker says at service The Civil War was the most significant event in American history, those gathered at the Confederate Cemetery yesterday for the observance of Memorial Day were told. Edwin W. Watson, president of the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center, also talked about a former soldier, artist John Adams Elder, who is buried in the cemetery.
Date published: 5/27/2008
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