Memorial Day

Memorial Day 2024

Our 158th Memorial Day observance was held on May 27, 2024, at the Confederate Cemetery.

The speaker was Charles G. McDaniel. He told of the importance of Fredericksburg to the American Revolution, and the contributions of this area’s four generals (George Washington, Hugh Mercer, William Woodford, and George Weedon).

The Invocation and Benediction were given by The Rev. Deacon Ed Jones. Boy Scout Troop 179 presented the Colors, and Daniel Green played Taps.

The program concluded with a brief commemoration of two soldiers of Hood’s Texas Brigade who died at the Battle of the Wilderness: Sgt. Groce Lawrence (Co. G, 4th Texas Infantry), and 2nd Lt. Whitaker P. Randall, (Co. L, 1st Texas Infantry). Texas and Arkansas flags decorated the graves of the 62 soldiers from Hood’s Texas Brigade.

Memorial Day 2023

The Ladies’ Memorial Association sponsored its 157th Memorial Day Observance on May 29, 2023, at The Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery. The Colors were presented by Boy Scout Troop 179. The invocation and benediction were given by The Rev. Tom Hughes. Our speaker was Erik Nelson, retired city planner and author of a forthcoming book on the Second Battle of Fredericksburg. He spoke of Fredericksburg as battlefield, community, and final resting place of those who could not go home.

Memorial Day 2020

Memorial Day 2020 at the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery was limited, yet meaningful. Father Francis de Rosa served as spiritual director. Sons of the Confederate Veterans (Mathew Fontaine Maury Camp) rendered a dove release, a gun salute, and Taps.

Memorial Day 2019

Hosted by the Ladies’ Memorial Association
Assisted by the American Heritage Girls, Evergreen Shade, and SCV Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp

The Very Reverend Francis de Rosa
Offering the blessing

Robert Epp
“A Geneologist’s View of the Confederate Cemetery”

Roy Perry, Camp Musician
Taps

Evergreen Shade

Memorial Day 2018

The 152nd Memorial Day Observance took place on May 28, 2018, at The Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery. There was music by “Evergreen Shade” and the Masssing of the Colors by the Sons of the Confederate Veterans (Mathew Fontaine Maury Camp) and the Boy Scout Troop 179.

The Invocation was given by The Very Reverend Francis de Rosa, V.F. , pastor of St Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Colonial Beach, Virginia. Our president, Carolyn Elstner, welcomed everyone and introduced the speaker, Father Francis de Rosa. He spoke on “Catholics and the Confederacy”.

Roy B. Perry, Jr. read his poem entitled “Boy in Gray”. The traditional strewing of petals around the Monument was performed by descendants and friends of the LMA members.

Robert M Kash, member of Mathew Fontaine Maury Camp SCV released white doves and everyone was in awe. It was a wonderful service attended by many.

Those to be thanked include:

American Heritage Girls
Mrs. C.V. Anderson
Richard Barnick
Boy Scout Troop 179
Trail Life Troop 4034
Evergreen Shade
CWRT of Fredericksburg
Carrol Memorials
William Garner
Dan Janzegers
SCV Maury Camp
Mercer Vault
Roy Perry
The Picket Post
Jan Williams
Architectural Stone
Lohr Landscape
Tree Fredericksburg
UDC Fredericksburg #163
Community Foundation
The Society of the Order of the Southern Cross

Enjoy this slideshow of the Memorial Day Observance 2018.

Memorial Day 2017

Memorial Day Weekend at Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery: May 27 – 29, 2017

Saturday Night Luminary

At the cemetery, candles burned throughout Saturday night honoring the more than 3,550 Southern soldiers interred there. From 6 -7:30 p.m. historian Dan Janzegers conducted a public tour of the cemetery. At 7:30 p.m. Private Samuel R. Ard of South Carolina was remembered with the dedication of a new stone, emplaced at his gravesite by the Civil War Round Table of Fredericksburg. Pvt. Ard’s family was in attendance. The event included music by Evergreen Shade. It closed with a Volley from the SCV Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp and “Taps” performed by Roy Barton Perry, camp musician.

Memorial Day Ceremony

The Fredericksburg Ladies Memorial Association continued its 151-year Memorial Day tradition with a commemoration at the cemetery on Monday morning, May 29^th. Former president of Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Dr. Michael Stevens, gave the address entitled “Memory and Meaning.” Evergreen Shade accompanied the strewing of flower petals around the monument with Robert E. Lee’s favorite hymn, “How Firm A Foundation.” Attendees were deeply moved by Roy Perry’s reading of his poem,“The Sentinel” and by the release of doves in honor of the 3,550 Confederates resting in peace. The Reverend John Reid delivered the invocation and benediction, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans Maury Camp performed the military honors.

Memorial Day 2016

Monday, May 30th

The 150th Memorial Day Observance took place Saturday, May 28th. Dan Janzengers gave a tour of the Cemetery at 6:30pm. At dusk The United Daughters of the Confederacy and volunteers lit the luminaries. It was a somber, peaceful sight to see.

On Monday, May 30th, The Ladies’ Memorial Association hosted the 150th observance ceremony. It began with the Massing of the Colors by the Confederate Veterans and Boy Scout Troop 179. The speaker was Andrew Talkov, who spoke on Lizzie Alsop’s story.

A highlight of the day was “Bring Flowers, Pale Flowers,” the traditional strewing of petals by descendants and friends of Ladies’ Memorial Association. Following the Volley by Sons of Confederates, taps was played by Roy Barton Perry, Jr., 1st Lt. Commander and Camp Musician, Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans. Also played during the event was wonderful period music by Ever Green Shade.

Memorial Day 2015

The 149th Memorial Day Observance took place on Saturday, May 23. Dan Janzegers gave a tour of the Cemetery at 6:30pm. At dusk The United Daughters of The Confederacy lit the luminaries. It was a beautiful sight to see.

On Monday, May 25th The Ladies Memorial Association hosted the 149th Memorial Day observance ceremony. Steven Johnson gave this year’s speech. You can read it here.

You can also read about the ceremony on Fredericksburg.Today.

click on the images to zoom

: Dan Janzegers giving a tour of the cemetery

: The United Daughters of the Confederacy and The Sons of the Confederate were so very helpful

: Luminaries at night

: Luminaries at night

Memorial Day 2014

Please enjoy the photos from this year’s ceremony.

A special thank you goes to The United Daughters of the Confederacy, Fredericksburg Chapter #163, for all their hard work on the Luminary.

Please enjoy this video courtesy of the Free Lance-Star. You can view the original page HERE.

Memorial Day 2012

All still photos on this website are courtesy of Dan ‘Big French’ Janzegers.

Read Jerry Brent’s Memorial Day 2010 speech HERE.

Memorial Day 2008

: Barbara Crookshanks, President of the Ladies’ Memorial Association, welcomes guests to the 142nd observance of Memorial Day in the Fredericksburg Confederate Cemetery.

: The Reverend Gary Staddan, retired pastor of the First Christian Church, gives the invocation. LMA member Mary Peden Spano is at the left.

: Members of Boy Scout Troop 179 bow their heads in prayer. Troop 179 has participated in our Memorial Day Observances for many years.

: Lou Silvey, Vice President of the Ladies’ Memorial Association, introduces our speaker, Edwin Watson.

: Roy B. Perry, R. of Matthew Fontaine Maury Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans once again plays taps.

: Dressed in white with red ribbons, children continue the annual tradition of strewing petals around the Confederate monument.

: A crowd of local and out-of-town guests gathered for Memorial Day ceremonies.

: Confederate organizations placed wreaths in memory of their Southern ancestors.

: The Confederate re-enactment groups climax Memorial Day 2008 ceremonies with their traditional volley.

: Members of the Ladies’ Memorial Association listen as Edwin Watson of the Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center tells the story of artist John Elder who is buried in the cemetery.