HdG Honors Fallen On Memorial Day 2019

HAVRE DE GRACE, MD — The city of Havre de Grace hosted its annual Memorial Day ceremony at Tydings Park on Monday, May 27. It was one of two remembrance events, the first of which was at Angel Hill Cemetery.

Major General Randy S. Taylor was the guest speaker at the ceremony at Tydings Park.

He is the senior commander at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

"On this beautiful Memorial Day, the City of Havre de Grace reaffirms its commitment to honoring the sacrifices made by our service men and women," the city said in a statement on Monday. City officials thanked the American Legion Joseph L. Davis Post 47 for organizing and Taylor for speaking.

The origins of Memorial Day trace back more than 150 years to the final days of the Civil War. Because of the availability of flowers in the spring throughout the South, ceremonies honoring soldiers killed in battle were held in the spring.

The term “Memorial Day,” which had been used as far back as the 1880s, became increasingly popular after World War II.

Congress made the name official in 1967; and Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday in 1971, when the observance was moved to the last Monday in May.

"Whatever we do, what matters most is that we remember," Harford County Executive Barry Glassman said in a statement. "As the proud home of Aberdeen Proving Ground and thousands of veterans, Harford County has always had a special place in our hearts for our fallen heroes. I hope you will join me this Memorial Day in making sure they will never be forgotten."