Time Marches On: Memorial Day 2012

  

I started to work on this post about a week before Memorial Day when I got "the call". I really need to complete this offering before I move on to the next issue, so here it is.

As can be seen in the right margin above, this Times Leader article is from Memorial Day, 1941. My great-grandfather, Edward C. Williams, marched in the West Side Memorial Day parade for 71 years before he passed away in 1961. My father, Eddie's grandson, walked - with some assistance - in his 60th Memorial Day parade today.

My father stopped playing the fife in 2005. He stopped being able to walk with us in 2007. But while suffering with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's , he still continues the tradition that a 10 year old boy began 122 years ago.

Today, I played my great-grandfather's Civil War fife while following the ceremonial wreath into the Forty-Fort cemetery. The notes were loud and clear. I also read the Gettysburg address as part of the service. Later, at the American Legion Post 283 luncheon, I read the following in honor of my father's service to country and for remembering what Memorial Day is truly all about.

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Speech given by Don Williams on 5/28/2012

In May 1891, my great grandfather, Edward Charles Williams, first marched in the West Side Memorial Day parade at the age of 10 playing this Civil War fife.  Over the next 50+ years he was joined by his brothers, Samuel and Thomas, and local drummer Arthur Covert.

In 1941, on their 50^th anniversary of that first march, they all took the “last man pledge” and promised to keep the unit marching until there was no one left.

  

One, by one, by one…they passed away.
     
When Eddie’s grandson and my father, Donald Williams, returned from serving in Korea, he joined his grandfather on Memorial Day in 1953 and continued a family tradition that has spanned 122 years…and counting.
  
In total, five generations of our family have ensured that Eddie’s decision – at the age of 10 - to respectfully honor those who, in the words of Abraham Lincoln in his Gettysburg address, “gave the last full measure of devotion” would span 122 years and continue this tradition of honoring all those who gave their lives so that WE may live freely. To paraphrase what someone said recently; for we who enjoy freedom, every day is Memorial Day.  

I appreciate being allowed to say these few words, and to my father, for your 60^th year of keeping the Spirit of ’76 alive…we wish you many, many more.

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My father received a standing ovation.

Happy Memorial Day to all.