A History of Memorial Day in Covington
Planning is underway to resume the century old tradition of the Covington Memorial Day Parade, with its closing ceremony in Historic Linden Grove Cemetery and Arboretum.
A few things have changed over the years with the route and timing of the parade, but the conclusion of the parade with a solemn ceremony at Linden Grove remains the same.
An article from the Kentucky Post in early May 1927 described that year's parade with the headline, "Veterans of three wars unite in honoring dead, Memorial Day: Line of march is announced: Service at cemetery." The three wars represented by veterans at that time were the Civil War, the Spanish American War, and World War I (though it was simply referred to as World War at that time). "Gallant wearers of the Blue and Gray will rub elbows with the warriors of the Spanish-American War days and the boys who fought in the muddy trenches of France."
"Rubbing elbows" was the author's colorful way of describing how Union and Confederate veterans could march together sixty years after the Union victory. In reality, some scars of the war and the influenza and tuberculosis epidemics persisted. Social distancing was required throughout the parade. The marchers were to form in columns of four, six feet between rows, seventy-five feet between divisions, and thirty feet between units. The first division, commanded by Colonel W. H. Mockabee, included the police, fire fighters, mail carriers, the Grand Marshall (Captain James A. Fisher, G.A.R.) and staff, Kentucky National Guard and Reserves, Civil War veterans, Spanish American War veterans, and World War veterans. The second division commanded by Colonel Daniel O'Donovan (Covington's Mayor) included a marching band, Gold Star Mothers, members of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, children organized by public or parochial school, Daughters of American, American Legion Auxiliary, Daughters of the American Revolution, Knights of Columbus, members of Moose, Eagles, Elks and Masonry lodges, members of the Rotary, Industrial, Optimist club, Mechanics' Association, merchants, and other civilian organizations.
The route back then started with 9:00AM assembly at Fifth and Russell. The parade marched east on Fifth Street to Madison, south on Madison to Fifteenth Street, west on Fifteenth to Holman, with vehicles discharging at Fourteenth Street. In later years, the route changed to assembly at Holmes High School where it will step off onto Madison at 2:00PM. The current parade includes a Grand Marshall, Keynote Speaker, Holmes Marching Band, Police and Fire units, a Poppy Girl, several veterans of more recent wars, and a variety of civic, sports and school associations. The parade will conclude with the requisite ceremony at Linden Grove, beginning at approximately 3:15PM.
The ceremony will include:
opening and closing words from a chaplain;
remarks from Mayor Joseph U. Meyer;
introductions of the Grand Marshall and Poppy Girl;
keynote addresses;
patriotic songs;
laying of a wreath;
and military honor guard salute.
A parade committee has been actively meeting and planning at the Marshall Schildmeyer VFW Post 6095 in Latonia for this year's parade.
The Poppy tradition is inspired by the poem, “In Flanders Field,” which holds many of the casualties of the Battle of Ypres in World War I. Local veterans assemble poppy tributes using wire, silk, and paper as a memento to offer in soliciting donations for organizations that support disabled veterans. Assembling the mementos was a therapeutic exercise for the veterans and became a popular way for daughters and spouses to assist the veterans. Some schools would hold poster and essay contests as a way of selecting a Poppy Girl each year.
The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend is a day for decorating graves of veterans in our local cemeteries. Volunteers of local Boys and Girls Scout Troops place hundreds of American flags at veterans’ graves in Linden Grove. The flags are donated by local Masonic lodges.
Memorial Day is officially dedicated to honor those lost in battle serving our nation. Many of those dead are buried in cemeteries near the battlefields. Bronze plaques at the doors of the American Legion Post 203 in Latonia include names of local soldiers lost in World War I. A memorial in the Holmes stadium lists the names of locals lost in World War II. A memorial at Ritte's corner in Latonia lists names of locals lost in the Korean War. A new memorial also near Ritte's Corner will honor the casualties and veterans of the Vietnam War. Anybody walking through Linden Grove will notice hundreds of grave markers indicating the resting place of a veteran. Although those veterans were able to return home, it is worth honoring their sacrifices when their nation called and the years of service to our community after they returned home.