Memorial Day Ceremony

Posted on May 20, 2019

City of Fort Wright
Monday, May 27, 2019
10:00 AM

WELCOME - Mayor Dave Hatter

PRESENTATION OF COLORS & RAISING OF FLAG - Fort Wright Fire Department

NATIONAL ANTHEM - Addison Dierig, Holy Cross High School

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Girl Scout Troop #2903 & FW City Council

INVOCATION - Father Jason Bertke, St. Agnes Church

LAYING OF WREATH - Girl Scout Troop #2903

INTRODUCTION OF SPEAKER - Mayor Dave Hatter

KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Gunnery Sgt. Samuel D. Deeds, USMC

FALLEN SOLDIER REMEMBRANCE - CAO Jill Cain Bailey

CLOSING COMMENTS - Mayor Dave Hatter

CLOSING PRAYER - Father Jason Bertke, St. Agnes Church

21 GUN SALUTE - Fort Wright Police Department

PATRIOTIC SELECTIONS

RECEPTION - Light refreshments provided.
 

A special thank you to our keynote speaker Gunnery Sgt. Samuel D. Deeds, Retired United States Marine Corp.  We are forever grateful to you for your service to our country and for joining us at our service.
 

FORT WRIGHT VETERANS

We are honoring all Fort Wright Veterans with their own brick in our Veteran’s Memorial located at City Hall.  To have a paver added please send the Veteran’s Name, Branch of Service, Rank, and Years of Service to [email protected]
 

FALLEN SOLDIER TABLE

The TABLE … set for one … is small symbolizing the loneliness we feel without them. The TABLECLOTH is white … symbolizing the purity of their intentions and willingness to respond to their country’s call to arms. The single ROSE in the vase reminds us of the families and loved ones of our comrades in-arms, who kept the faith awaiting their return, and forever left behind. The RED RIBBON tied so prominently on the vase, is reminiscent of the red ribbon worn by many who bear witness to their unyielding determination; to account for every one of our missing. A SLICE OF LEMON is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter fate. There is SALT upon the bread plate too, symbolic of the river of tears shed by families and loved ones. The GLASS is inverted … they cannot toast with us this night. The CHAIR is empty … they are not here. Our lives are incomplete because they are not here to sit with us tonight. They were there for us … we are still here for them. In honoring them … each of them … all of them … we stand silently and face their table … the table where they should be sitting with us tonight. We stand silently in their absence.