Memorial Day Ceremony 2024 recap

On Monday, May 27, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the residents of Great Falls and all others who have given “the last full measure of devotion” to their country.  The event featured an invocation by lay minister Bob Newhall, a Boy Scout color guard and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Boy and Girl Scout Troops. Patriotic songs were led by sisters Lucia and Allithia Aguilar, who are students at Langley High School and Cooper Middle School.  “Amazing Grace” was performed on the bagpipes by Great Falls student MacPhearson Strassberg.  Andy Wilson, President of the Great Falls Freedom Memorial Board and an Army Ranger veteran, delivered the keynote speech. “Taps” was bugled by student Steve Kramp.  Memorial Day poppies were distributed and a wreath-laying for natives of Great Falls killed in battle was conducted.  The Freedom Bell donated by David Lucien was rung as names were read.

A video of the event can be found by clicking here or below:

Memorial Day Ceremony 2023 recap

Election Day at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial, November 3, 2020
Great Falls Freedom Memorial

On Monday, May 29, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the residents of Great Falls and all others who have given “the last full measure of devotion” to their country. The event featured an invocation by lay minister Bob Newhall, a Boy Scout color guard, the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Boy and Girl Scouts, patriotic songs, a bagpipe performance of “Amazing Grace” by Great Falls student MacPhearson Strassberg, a keynote speech by Historic Congressional Cemetery Director of Public Engagement A.J. Orlikoff, “Taps” bugled by Boy Scout Henry Lin, Memorial Day poppies, and a bell-ringing, name-reading, and wreath-laying for natives of Great Falls killed in battle.

A video of the event can be found by clicking here or below:

 

Memorial Day Ceremony 2023

Election Day at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial, November 3, 2020
Great Falls Freedom Memorial

On Monday, May 29, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the residents of Great Falls and all others who have given “the last full measure of devotion” to their country. The event will feature patriotic songs, a Boy Scout color guard, a bagpipe performance of “Amazing Grace” by Great Falls student MacPhearson Strassberg, a keynote speech by Historic Congressional Cemetery Director of Public Engagement A.J. Orlikoff, “Taps” bugled by Boy Scout Henry Lin, Memorial Day poppies, and a bell-ringing and name-reading for natives of Great Falls killed in battle.

The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremony is open to all. Parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, the ceremony will move to either the library meeting room or the Grange. Limited seating and shelter will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

A flyer concerning the event can be found here.

 

Memorial Day ceremony recap

On Monday, May 30, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the residents of Great Falls and all others who have given “the last full measure of devotion” to their country. The event featured patriotic songs led by Great Falls resident Dick Kuntz, a Boy Scout color guard, a bagpipe performance of “Amazing Grace” by Great Falls student MacPhearson Strassberg, a keynote speech by retired Army three-star general David H. Huntoon, Jr., “Taps” by Great Falls Boy Scout Henry Lin, Memorial Day poppies, and a bell-ringing and name-reading for natives of Great Falls killed in battle.

A story about the event in the Great Falls Connection can be found by clicking the photo above or here.  A video of the event is available below or by clicking here.

Memorial Day ceremony at Great Falls Freedom Memorial, May 30, 2022

Election Day at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial, November 3, 2020
Great Falls Freedom Memorial

On Monday, May 30, at 11:00 a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor the residents of Great Falls and all others who have given “the last full measure of devotion” to their country. The event will feature patriotic songs led by Great Falls resident Dick Kuntz, a Boy Scout color guard, a bagpipe performance of “Amazing Grace” by Great Falls student MacPhearson Strassberg, a keynote speech by retired Army three-star general David H. Huntoon, Jr., a Taps bugler, Memorial Day poppies, and a bell-ringing and name-reading for natives of Great Falls killed in battle.

The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremony is open to all. Parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, the ceremony will move to the library meeting room. Limited seating and shelter will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

A flyer concerning the event can be found here.

 

Memorial Day Ceremony, May 27, 2019

On Monday, May 27, at 11 o’clock a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor those who gave “the last full measure of devotion” in service of freedom. The event will feature patriotic songs, a color guard and raising of the flags by Boy Scout Troop 55, a wreath laying, and a bell-ringing and name-reading for natives of Great Falls killed in battle.

The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremony is open to all. Parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, the ceremony may move to the library meeting room. Limited seating and shelter will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

Updates to the schedule, if any, will be posted here.

Memorial Day Ceremony, May 28, 2018

On Monday, May 28, at 11 o’clock a.m., the annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor those who gave “the last full measure of devotion” in service of freedom. Longtime Vienna resident and World War II “civilian veteran” Rita C. Stead delivered the keynote address on the meaning of Memorial Day. The event also included patriotic songs, a raising of the flags by Boy Scout Troop 55, a wreath laying, and a bell-ringing and name-reading for natives of Great Falls killed in battle.

The Great Falls Connection published an article about the event, which can be seen by clicking the image below.

Great Falls Connection cover, May 30, 2018
Great Falls Connection cover, May 30, 2018

A flyer for the event can be found here.

The Freedom Memorial is located behind the Great Falls Library at 9830 Georgetown Pike. The ceremonies are open to all. Parking is available in the library parking lot. In case of rain, ceremonies will move to the library meeting room. Limited seating and shelter will be provided. Attendees are encouraged but not required to bring portable chairs.

Memorial Day Ceremony 2017

Robert D. Vickers, Jr., Vietnam Veteran and longtime resident of Great Falls, addresses the audience at the Memorial Day Ceremony held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial, May 29, 2017. Photo by Nancy Wilson.
Robert D. Vickers, Jr., Vietnam Veteran and longtime resident of Great Falls, addresses the audience at the Memorial Day Ceremony held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial, May 29, 2017. Photo by Nancy Wilson.

On Monday, May 29, at 11:00 am, the annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial to honor those who gave “last full measure of devotion” in service of freedom, including at least 25 citizens of Great Falls. The keynote speaker was longtime Great Falls resident Robert D. Vickers, Jr., former CIA National Intelligence Officer, Vietnam Veteran, and present chairman of the Fairfax County Tree Commission, who discussed his tour of duty in Vietnam and its aftermath. The event also included patriotic songs, a raising of the flags by Boy Scout Troop 55, a Marine Corps color guard and taps bugler, a wreath laying, and a reading of the honor roll and bell-ringing for each of the 25 known Great Falls natives who have fallen in defense of our country. Red poppies were distributed to the audience to betoken gratitude to all whom Memorial Day serves to honor.

Share and view pictures and videos of the event here.

The Great Falls Connection carried a story about the event, which you can read by clicking on the image below.

Great Falls Connection reporter Fallon Forbush created a moving video about the event:

A video of the entire event appears below.

Memorial Day Ceremony 2016

Local dignitaries, assisted by the Boy Scouts, lay a wreath at the Freedom Memorial in Great Falls, Virginia on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016. Photo taken from and links to a story in the Great Falls Connection.
Local dignitaries, assisted by the Boy Scouts, lay a wreath at the Freedom Memorial in Great Falls, Virginia on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016. Photo taken from and links to a story in the Great Falls Connection.

On Monday, May 30th, at 11:00 AM, the annual Memorial Day ceremony was held at the Great Falls Freedom Memorial.  The event included a taps bugler, patriotic songs, remarks by retired Air Force Brigadier General Richard Stephen Ritchie (one of five American aces during the Vietnam War), a reading of the names and bell-ringing for each of the 26 residents of Great Falls who have fallen in service to our country, a wreath-laying by local dignitaries, and a raising of the flags by Boy Scout Troop 55.

The Great Falls Connection carried a story about the event. View and share photos and videos of the event here.