Posts Tagged ‘holidays’

in Visit & Events, What's New

May 27, 2011

Colonial Williamsburg Honors Military Service on Memorial Day Weekend

Colonial Williamsburg honors the sacrifices and dedication of U.S. veterans, active duty military personnel, guard and reservists and their dependents during Memorial Day weekend with special programs and free admission.

The Memorial Day Commemorative Program begins at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30 in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. Colonial Williamsburg’s Fifes and Drums lead a procession to three sites – the Governor’s Palace, Bruton Parish Church, and Providence Hall – to honor military veterans who were interred in or near those sites from the American Revolution and the Civil War.

The one-hour Memorial Day service begins in front of the Governor’s Palace. There, participants recognize the graves of Revolutionary War dead with a memorial wreath. Prayers are offered and the militia fire musket salutes.

The procession then advances to Bruton Parish Church, where a wreath is offered to a church representative who will lead prayers in memory of those veterans interred in the churchyard followed by musket salutes.

Finally, participants march to the French grave sites near Providence Hall to recognize the aid of the French allies in the final victory of the American Revolution. A third wreath is laid, and final cannon salutes are fired by the militia artillery crew. Providence Hall is the only site where cannon volleys will be fired.

The Memorial Day service is free and open to the public.

Plan your visit.