Dear Friends of the Mound City National Cemetery Preservation Commission This is our first newsletter to our Friends of the Preservation Commission. Our plans are to send out two (2) newsletters a year. There have been several changes in the past year with the Commission, and we wanted to update you on some of those changes. We had another great turnout for our Memorial Day Program in May ! Captain Ken Gooding, a Merchant Marine, gave a very heartfelt speech. Captain Gooding was introduced by Korean War Veteran, Edmond Bridewell, Jr. The Cannoneers, the re-enactment group and the area VFW and American Legion Veterans Color Guard were once again with us. This year we honored the Korean War Veterans. The SEMO Military Vehicle Association participated in the procession from Mound City to the cemetery, with some of the Korean Veterans riding as their passengers. Patriot Guard proudly led the procession. The Commander of Troops, once again, was Jim Wright. Suzy Holland sang the “Star Spangled Banner” and Anita Bugg sang “ The Fallen are not Forgotten”. Sherry Miller read “in Flanders Field”. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Charlie Sharp, Korean War Veteran from Olmsted, Il. Rev. Larry Buckles from the Villa Ridge Union Church gave the Invocation and the Benediction. Tom Mueller gave the 11th General Order, and Roll Call was read by Roy “Buddy” Walls and Morrissa Clanahan. We were pleased to have Paul Echols give the Historian Notes this year. It’s that time of year again and we are looking forward to our participation in the Wreaths Across America program. Our goal, once again, is to try and place a flag on every grave. We have over 9,000 graves, so that will not be an easy task. That is why we need everyone’s help ! The wreaths are $15.00 each with $5.00 going to the Preservation Commission. The wreaths are made of evergreens from Maine and a big red bow is placed at the top. If you would like to order a wreath, call (618) 521-5228 Some of you may wonder who and what the Mound City National Cemetery Preservation Commission is. This Commission was formed to “save” the caretakers lodge at the cemetery. We are a 501c3 organization and we maintain the lodge (utilities, maintenance, etc.) While we have artifacts on display in the lodge, we are working to establish a permanent museum. The museum will focus on Mound City being the largest hospital during the Civil War, which created the need for the cemetery. With this in mind, we are now seeking artifacts related to the medical aspect of the Civil War. If you or someone you know have any such artifacts and would like to donate or loan them to the museum, please call or contact: Tom Mueller – (573) 334-3275 Over the past year we were honored to receive a grant to purchase a new sound system (for various programs at the cemetery) , a golf cart (to transport visitors around the cemetery on Memorial Day), and a copy machine. We were even able to update our security system. We received a $2,000.00 donation from ACL (American Commercial Lines ), which will be used to help in maintaining the lodge. This donation was a welcome gift to the commission. Our longtime President of the Commission, Clayton Bierbaum, has stepped down due to health reasons. Clayton’s vast knowledge and long association with the Preservation Commission, has been an asset we hated to lose! However, we still call on him from time to time to help us over some “stumbling blocks”. Changes are coming to the Commission and we will keep you posted. You’re always welcome to attend the meetings held on the 1st Monday of the month at 6p.m. at the caretakers lodge. We thank you for being Friends of the National Cemetery and will look forward to seeing you in December at the Wreaths Across America Program. DATES TO REMEMBER: Veterans Day November 11, 2014 Wreaths across America order deadline November 28, 2014 Wreaths Across America Ceremony December 13, 2014 11:00 a.m. cst Flag Day June 14, 2015 Memorial Day Program May 23, 2015 10:00 a.m.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 00:28:42 +0000
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