The pandemic caused the annual Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens Memorial Day Ceremony to be called off this year, but organizers found another way to honor Marylanders killed in the line of duty.
THE PANDEMIC CAUSED THE ANNUALDULANEY VALLEY MEMORIALGARDENS MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONYTO BE CALLED OFF THIS YEAR.BUT WMAR 2 NEWS' MARK ROPEREXPLAINS HOW THE ORGANIZERSFOUND ANOTHER WAY TO HONORMARYLANDERS KILLED IN THE LINEOF DUTY.USUALLY THERE ARE MORE THAN1━HUNDRED PEOPLE GATHEREDHERE TO REMEMBER THOSE BRAVESOULS WHO LOST THEIR LIVESWHILE SERVING OUR COUNTRY━BUT THIS YEAR━ THE ANNUALMEMORIAL DAY TRADITION GOESSILENT WITH A PR━ RECORDEDCEREMONY.
You'll see some ofthe aspects of what wenormally have on memorial dayso it gives as good astribute as we felt we couldWHILE THIS YEAR'S CEREMONYLOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT DULANEYVALLEY MEMORIAL GARDENSPRESIDENT JACK MITCHELLEXPLAINS YOU CAN STILL SEE THESTARS AND STRIPES FLYING ATHALF STAFF━ THE PREZSENTATION OF THE COLORS TOHONOR EACH BRANCH OF THE ARMEDSERVICES━ AS WELL AS THELAYING OF A WREATH TO HONORTHOSE WHO'VE LAID DOWN THEIRLIVES IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
BUTINSTEAD OF TAKING PLACE WITHINON THE GROUNDS OF DULANEYVALLEY MEMORIAL GARDENS━THIS YEAR'S CEREMONY WILL BEON IT'S WEBSITE AND FACEBOOKPAGE.
THE ONLINE CEREMONYHONORS FIVE AMERICAN SERVICEMEMBERS LOST DURING THE LAST14 MONTHS.
U.S.ARMY SGT.
1STCLASS JOHN DAVID RANDOLPHHILTY U.S. MARINE CORPS FIRSTLT.
HUGH C.
MCDOWELL U.S.MARINE CORPS CAPT.
MOISES A.NAVAS U.S. MARINE CORPS STAFFSGT.
CHRISTOPHER SLUTMAN U.S.NAVY ENSIGN JOSHUA KALEBWATSON These men and women,this year it happens to befive men, sacrificed theirlives in this past year, sorather than just puteverything on hold until ayear from now, we felt it wasimportant to give somerecognition right now thismemorial day DESPITE THE*ABSENCE OF HUNDREDS OFVISITORS AND SERVICE MEN ANDWOMEN━ THE FIELDS ARE FARFROM EMPTY━ 3━ HUNDREDAMERICAN FLAGS HAVE BEENPLACED ON THE FINAL RESTINGPLACE OF MARYLAND VETERANS.the field of honor will beadorned as it normally is withall those flags, so we'rebasically just doing as muchas we can, to honor ttraditions WHICH IS TO PAYTRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO MADE THE*ULTIMATE*SACRIFICE━FORTHEIR COUNTRY.
I hope thatmany people will take thetime, whether its come to thecemetery, to watch the videosto recognize their sacrificebecause its just a level ofcourage that most of us can'tunderstand WHICH IS WHY WEDON'T SAY*HAPPY*MEMORIAL DAYBUT INSTEAD━ THANK YOU AS WEREMEMBER YOU━ WE AREGRATEFUL TO YOU AND WEREMEMBER OUR FALLEN.
It's moreof a day of understanding andrecognition, so it's not ahappy day but it is a proudday SINCE THIS YEAR'S CEREMONYWAS CANCELED━ FAMILIESMEMBERS WHO WERE HONORED THISMEMORIAL DAY━ WILL BEINVITED TO COME BACK NEXTYEAR.
IN TIMMONIUM━ MARKROPER WMAR 2 NEWTHE BALTIMORE NATIO
For the first time ever, people can watch a Memorial Day service hosted by Ponderosa Valley Funeral Services from home.
