INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – On a humid Saturday morning in August, observers, volunteers, and service members gathered at Crown Hill Cemetery to celebrate the life of a former U.S. president with Indiana roots.
Guest glowed with pride as they approached the memorial site of Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, during the annual wreath laying ceremony on 19 Aug. 2017.
They came to honor and pay tribute to their state and nation’s lineage. The ceremony is a time-honored tradition celebrating the life of the former president.
For the volunteers involved, President Harrison’s life as a public serviceman and resident of Indianapolis and the State of Indiana still touches home for them today.
“President Harrison was an officer during the time period of the Civil War; it is our pleasure, it is our honor and our duty to come out and pay respect to the president and to his service and his time period,” said Doug Roush, with the 19th U.S. Regular Infantry and the combined color guard for the event.
“The glue of history is our bond. We are very into the idea of keeping tradition alive,” he said.
The wreath laying is a noble and heartfelt tribute, according to participants. At other memorial sites, such as Arlington National Cemetery, the gifts of flowers remains a ritual and is understood to pay respects. According to contributors, the wreath symbolizes both the beauty and brevity of life and evokes memories of other days.
Commanding General Brig. Gen. Vincent Barker, 310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), served as President Donald Trump’s representative to lay the wreath and deliver greetings. “We are proud that our Army Reserve at Fort Benjamin Harrison Armed Forces Center installation bears his name and it becomes a part of the rich legacy of the public service Harrison bequeath to the American people and great State of Indiana.”
The ceremony was hosted by the Crown Hill Heritage Foundation. Participants involved were the Indiana Society of Sons of the American Revolution 19th U.S. Regular Infantry (Combined Honor Guard); Chaplain Lt. Col. Douglas Hendrick of the 310th ESC; “National Anthem” singer Katherine Foor, student of Lawrence Central High School; Charles A. Hyde President and CEO of Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site; Lois Huntington of INDAR State Regent; Shirley Roberts, Regent of Caroline Scott Harrison Chapter DAR; bugler Staff Sgt. Davis Lambermont, 338th Army Band; Elaine Shotly, honorary regent of Caroline Scott Harrison Chapter, NSDAR; Cub Pack 190 and Cub Pack 927.