Annual
Memorial Day Services
at Laurel Hill Cemetery
(since 1868)
Philadelphia, PA
Memorial Day Services
at Laurel Hill Cemetery
(since 1868)
Philadelphia, PA
Sunday, May 30, 2021 (original date of the first Memorial Day in 1868)
TWELVE O’CLOCK NOON
Assembly of participants, citizens & guests in front of Cemetery Gatehouse Grand procession to the Memorial sites
Grand March to the grave of Major General George G. Meade, Victor of the Battle of Gettysburg
Call to order by Master of Ceremonies – Dr. Andy Waskie, Legion Post 405
Presentation of Colors
Invocation Service by Albert El, Chaplain of Legion Post 405
Presentation of Colors
Invocation Service by Albert El, Chaplain of Legion Post 405
Musical interlude: Philadelphia Brigade Band
Laying of wreaths
Volley by Military Honor Guard
‘Taps’
The Grand procession reforms and proceeds to Meade Post #1 G.A.R. Plot and ‘Silent Sentry’ for a Grand Army of the Republic Service
Laying of wreaths
Volley by Military Honor Guard
‘Taps’
The Grand procession reforms and proceeds to Meade Post #1 G.A.R. Plot and ‘Silent Sentry’ for a Grand Army of the Republic Service
Call to order: Master of Ceremonies
Dedication Ceremony of the two (2) new veterans grave markers:
US Navy Assistant Engineer on USS Mystic – Theodore DeKlyne
Army Surgeon George Huhn, M.D. Army Medical Corps, Civil War
Historical Sketches
Musical Interlude by the Philadelphia Brigade Band
Laying of Wreaths: at the PA-MOLLUS ‘Silent Sentry’ monument
Honor Volley: Combined Military Units
Taps
Benediction Service by Chaplain Albert El
Retiring of Colors
Dismissal
Musical Interlude by the Philadelphia Brigade Band
Laying of Wreaths: at the PA-MOLLUS ‘Silent Sentry’ monument
Honor Volley: Combined Military Units
Taps
Benediction Service by Chaplain Albert El
Retiring of Colors
Dismissal
Refreshments at Gatehouse of Cemetery to Follow Ceremony
Many thanks to all who contributed!
Sponsoring Groups
Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery
General Meade Society of Philadelphia
American Legion Post #405 at the Union League
Major Maceuen Civil War Round Table of the Union League—Post #1 Society
Camps, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Patriotic Order Sons of America
American Civil War Charitable Trust
PA-MOLLUS (Loyal Legion)
Philadelphia Brigade Band
General Meade Society of Philadelphia
American Legion Post #405 at the Union League
Major Maceuen Civil War Round Table of the Union League—Post #1 Society
Camps, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War
Patriotic Order Sons of America
American Civil War Charitable Trust
PA-MOLLUS (Loyal Legion)
Philadelphia Brigade Band
Special Guests
Historian of Legion Post 405 at the Union League, and Keynote Speaker Capt. Jack Lieberman
Historian of Legion Post 405 at the Union League, and Keynote Speaker Capt. Jack Lieberman
Guest speaker: Monica Hallman, USN (ret.), Union League; Legion Post 405; Veterans Table
Albert El – Chaplain
Dan Dailey, Commander – P.O.S. of A.
Contingent: Members of the Armed Forces
All Veterans
Participating Military Units
Albert El – Chaplain
Dan Dailey, Commander – P.O.S. of A.
Contingent: Members of the Armed Forces
All Veterans
Participating Military Units
Thanks and Acknowledgment for Members of the Meade Family; Members of the Press; Members of Heritage Groups; & Citizens
Reception Courtesy of the General Meade Society of Philadelphia; Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery Camp #1, S.U.V.C.W.; Members & Friends
New Veterans’ Markers Courtesy of: Historian, Russ Dodge; Bill Vosseler, American Civil War Charitable Trust; the General Meade Society of Philadelphia.
Patriotic Order Sons of America and Dan Dailey; Bill Doran and Beth Savastana, Laurel Hill Cemetery
LAUREL HILL CEMETERY is the final resting place of thousands of known and unknown American Veterans, from the French and Indian War through Vietnam.
Your Membership provides us the funding required to maintain and restore the gravesites of our nation’s heroes, and to perpetuate their service and sacrifice.
Join, renew or learn more at thelaurelhillcemetery.org.
Historic Laurel Hill Cemetery
3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19132
The following is from Russ Dodge, noted LHC and Civil War historian:
“We dedicated new headstones for two previously unmarked Civil War veterans, as we do every Memorial Day.
Theodore W. Deklyne served as an Naval officer on board the USS Mystic during the Civil War, and was a Colonel in the post-war Louisiana National Guard, where he worked to implement Reconstruction policies and protect enfranchisement of African-Americans, most of whom had been enslaved prior to the war. He died of yellow fever at the age of 29.
Dr. George Huhn served in the 154th Pennsylvania Infantry before being assigned as a post Surgeon to Camp William Penn, the training camp paid for by the Union league to train the African-Americans soldiers who would go on to make up 11 different United States Colored Troop regiments. He died from his exertions in October 1864. I get a measure of satisfaction every Memorial Day, as my research is what usually brings to the cemetery’s attention that these veterans are unmarked. Each marked veteran is another who have been rescued from obscurity and can now be forever honored for their service.”
Dr. George Huhn served in the 154th Pennsylvania Infantry before being assigned as a post Surgeon to Camp William Penn, the training camp paid for by the Union league to train the African-Americans soldiers who would go on to make up 11 different United States Colored Troop regiments. He died from his exertions in October 1864. I get a measure of satisfaction every Memorial Day, as my research is what usually brings to the cemetery’s attention that these veterans are unmarked. Each marked veteran is another who have been rescued from obscurity and can now be forever honored for their service.”
Many thanks to Russ for the use of his photos. – The George Meade Society
CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW AS SLIDESHOW
