Join us for the 29th annual luminaria at the Fredericksburg National Cemetery on Saturday, May 25, 2024. Visit the cemetery between 8 pm to 11 pm to experience the luminaria. This event is free to the public. In the event of rain, the event will be moved to Sunday, May 26th.
During the luminaria, 15,300 candles brighten the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Each candle represents a soldier buried in the cemetery and honors those who died in the service of this country. Throughout the evening a bugler will play “Taps” every 30 minutes as park staff posted throughout the cemetery relate stories about some of the soldiers.
The Fredericksburg National Cemetery was established in 1866 and remained open for military burials until 1945. It holds the remains of 15,243 soldiers, sailors and Marines, most of whom died during the Civil War. At least 85% of the graves are unidentified, resulting in over 12,770 unknowns. The annual luminaria has served as a poignant tribute to the fallen since 1996. Learn more about the Fredericksburg National Cemetery.
This event would not be possible without the assistance of local Scouts, who volunteer to set up and light the luminarias.
https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/fredericksburg-national-cemetery-luminaria.htm
https://scoutingevent.com/082-81723
Comment: Of all the events and ceremonies commemorating Memorial Day in this area, I find this to be the most moving and fitting one. It’s far more than a ceremony to observe and dwell on one’s thoughts and memories. Far more. It’s an opportunity to meet all those who gave their lives in battle for their country. I feel their spirits surround me as I walk among the luminaria. They rise up to bear witness to their sacrifice and to see what we have made of that sacrifice. It’s a call to action, an admonishment not just to remember, but to do better.
TTG
Soldiers back then had to buy their own dogtags. The ones that didn’t just wrote their name & address on paper and pinned it to the back of their coat. Hence the 12000 unknowns.
TTG,
Sorry to be so off-topic, but this spiel by Zeihan is really dramatic. It’s only 9 minutes. Does it sound at all realistic to you? He says a huge 3-way offensive is about to commense.
Endgame in Ukraine? Russia’s bold strategy revealed:
https://youtu.be/iTi-TOZcB4s
F&L,
This Zeihan video seems to be three years old. He’s describing the early days of the invasion. You can tell by the comments.
Right you are. Sorry for the embarrassing oversight and thanks. I’ve unsubscribed from that channel.
Been wondering for longer now what the hell attracts to to that pompous a** analyst, if I may?
Nothing attracts me to him except the YouTube algorithm. I probably dislike him more than you do. YouTube has changed over the last six months – for the worse in my experience. The videos are recycled by secondary and tertiary presenters who repackage original work as their own. For example Napolitano’s interviews reappear under other channels, as do Mearsheimer’s, Sachs and Ritter’s. It’s very tedious.
Wonderful Memorial Day to the pilgrims. Good choices with Alan Farell & the Fredericksburg luminaria.
Our little place in the world had our own memorial services this morning. Only 31 names were read off at the ‘final roll call’. 22 were from World Wars One & Two and Viet-Nam. Plus nine Coasties from Cape Disappointment who died rescuing mariners. Laid some wreaths at their monuments. High school bugler played taps. Two ladies sang God Bless America. Had a short prayer and a poem. A Coast Guard honor guard fired off a three-gun salute.
Nothing like the 15K plus at Fredericksburg, but just as meaningful locally.