GALLERY from Jan Bierman Talbett and Mallory LaForge Short
By Jan Bierman Talbett,
The ceremony was conducted by Retired Naval Officer, Joshua Mullen, with Wellsville’s Morrison Hayes American Legion Post 702 acting as honor guard and rifle squad.
“It was a very moving ceremony,” said Mallory LaForge Short.
The ceremony began with a moment of silence to remember those veterans past and present, with a special remembrance for two veterans we lost this year, Nathan Scott and Darryl Lewis. This was followed by Chet Norton playing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes, and Holden Matteson singing the National Anthem.
Local veterans hung ceremonial wreaths to represent each branch of the service, including those who were POW’s and KIA. After the 21 gun salute, 9th grader Keira Muenier ended the ceremony by playing Taps.
As the call of Taps sounded, Union soldiers were spotted walking back and forth through the cemetery, laying wreaths and saluting the graves of Civil War veterans who had given their lives.
These soldiers made their way to the front of the cemetery, stood in formation, eyeing the honor guard and crowd. The rifle squad in turn, saluted the soldiers, who silently turned, walked away and disappeared.
