Annual General Meade Birthday Celebration
Major General George G. Meade (1815–1872)
Honor Ceremony & Champagne Toast

December 31, 2021 at Noon
at Historic Laurel Hill Cemetery

The Annual General Meade Birthday Gala Honor Ceremony at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia was held at Laurel Hill Cemetery on the day of his birth, December 31st. The day was mild, if overcast, and a fine day for the ceremony.

It was General Meade’s 206th Anniversary and the 31st year of the observance on December 31, 2021 at noon.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

The General Meade Society of Philadelphia, Friends of Laurel Hill & West Laurel Hill Cemeteries, American Legion Post 405, Beck’s Philadelphia Brigade Band, Assorted Friends & Sponsors

Co-Sponsors were: General Meade Society, Laurel Hill Cemetery, staff and Friends, American Legion Post 405 at the Union League, MOLLUS

Civil War Reenactment groups:

28th P.V.; 69th P.V. ; 12th New Jersey; 7th New Jersey; 2nd Delaware; 114th P.V. 3rd U.S.C.T.; Veteran Reserve Corps; Confederation of Union Generals (COUG);Beck’s Philadelphia Brigade Band; Camp #1; Camp #19; Camp #101 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

PROGRAM

11:30am – Concert of Civil War Era music by Beck’s Philadelphia Brigade Band
12:00pm – Parade Formation; March of Military Units, Civilians, Veterans and
Citizens step off for the grave of General Meade and wife Margaretta Meade
12:15pm – Call to order by M.C.; Introduction of Sponsors and VIP Invited Guests
12:25pm – Invocation by the Chaplain Albert El
12:30pm – Speakers address the life and career of General Meade
12:45pm – Musical Interlude by the Philadelphia Brigade Band
12:50pm – Keynote Speaker – Dr. Joseph Coleman, past Commander-in-Chief of MOLLUS
1:00pm –   Wreath Layings (various groups)
1:15pm –   Honor Volleys by the Firing Party commanded by Capt. John Green,
28th P.V. (Pennsylvania Volunteers);and other military groups followed by ‘Taps’
1:20pm – Musical Interlude by the Philadelphia Brigade Band
1:25pm – Benediction by Chaplain Albert El
1:30pm – Champagne Toast

Dismissal

Refreshments  courtesy of the General Meade Society opens at 1pm; Concert of period music by Beck’s Philadelphia Brigade Band

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