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DURHAM -- Over Memorial Day weekend, Maplewood Cemetery will be hosting the a ceremony dedicated to the brave men and women who lost their lives fighting for their country.
On Sunday, everyone is invited to help plant flags at Maplewood Cemetery, 1621 Duke University Road. The flags will be placed on the graves of fallen soldiers and veterans.
"We will meet on Sunday at American Legion Post on 406 East Trinity Avenue," said Joel Lipsey, of American Legion Post 7. "At about 1:30, we will go to Maplewood Cemetery."
On Monday, Memorial Day, the public is also invited to the cemetery for services including guest speaker, Col. Tom Eagen, USMC (Ret.)
"The ceremony will start at 1 p.m. with the Call to Order," Lipsey said. "The Post Color Guard march out, holding the colors, and then post the colors."
The Color Guard will be done while the national anthem is sung. The ceremony will continuing with the placing of a wreath -- a symbol to all those soldiers and veterans who have lost their lives -- and the Pledge of Allegiance.
A prayer will be said before Eagen speaks, followed by the 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps, a benediction, and the Retirement of Colors.
The ceremony will be held, rain or shine.
Other cemeteries are also hosting Memorial Day ceremonies.
n Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2740 is holding a ceremony at 11 a.m. at Oak Grove Memorial Gardens, 3712 Cheek Road.
The color guard will be the Riverside High School Junior ROTC. Guest speakers will include Ira McCarson, a Vietnam veteran recipient of two purple hearts and a bronze star, and Judge Tom Brand, a retired colonel. There will also be a bagpiper and a playing of taps.
n American Legion Post 175 will hold a Memorial Day service at 5 p.m. at Beechwood Cemetery. The speaker is retired Colonel Larry Campbell. The Post Commander is Fred Foster Jr.
Beechwood Cemetery is located at 3600 Fayetteville Road.
n American Legion Post 6 of Chapel Hill will hold a Memorial Day observance at 8 a.m. Monday at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery between Fordham Boulevard and Legion Road, west of Scarlett Drive.
The memorial service will be followed by a 9:30 open house at the Post, 1714 Legion Road, speakers at 11 a.m., free hot dogs at noon and other events throughout the day at the Post site. Call (919) 942-2252 for more information.
