SULLIVAN COUNTY — Some of America's first national cemeteries were established after the Civil War ended in 1865 due to the incredible number of lives that were lost, and it wasn't shortly after that many towns and cities began holding springtime tributes to the fallen soldiers. People all over the country would decorate the veterans graves with flowers while reciting prayers and thanks.

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan called for a nationwide remembrance day to be held later on in the month, on May 30, in which fallen soldiers graves would be decorated with flowers. That day would become known as Decoration Day.

After World War I, Decoration Day, originally observing those lost in the Civil War, gradually became known as Memorial Day, in remembrance of all American soldiers lost in all wars.

Memorial Day continued to be observed on May 30 until Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968, establishing the last Monday in May as Memorial Day and declaring it a federal holiday. The change finally went into effect in 1971.

Today, people all over the nation, in cities and small country towns, hold parades, services and salutes in remembrance.

But according to various associations and organizations around the area, Memorial Day Service attendance is slowly declining.

“These guys, these veterans, they show up early in the morning and they go around to all the neighboring cemeteries and leave small American flags by all the deceased veterans graves,” said Kathleen Johnson, President of the Tusten Settlement Association. “You know, they're getting older but they're still the first ones to show up on Memorial Day. They make a beautiful salute to their fellow veterans and sometimes they tell stories of their war days or what it was like before the war. It's amazing to hear them. Those stories will be lost if they don't tell them and if there isn't someone to listen.”

The veterans in the Town of Tusten, VFW Post 6427, start cemetery services on Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Lava Cemetery then make their way to the St. Francis Cemetery by 11:30 a.m. followed by the Glen Cove Cemetery at noon. At 2 p.m. they hold the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Ten Mile River Baptist Church that was built in 1865.

“We know people have a lot of other things going on during Memorial Day weekend like barbecues and picnics and things,” said Johnson, “but I think it's important to spare even an hour if you can to attend a Memorial Day event to remember our veterans, to remember what this day is really, truly about, and it's about these people who lost their lives for us.”

So if you're able, spare a few minutes from the festivities of Memorial Day and attend a service, enjoy a luncheon, and salute a veteran this coming weekend! (See sidebar for a full list of events across the county)

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Contributed photo by Ben Johnson

Veterans perform a salute after their cemetery services, placing flags and flowers on the graves of lost soldiers, in the Town of Tusten in 2012.

Memorial Day 2018 events

Town of Mamakating: May 24-26 Shawanga Mountain VFW Post 4947 will place cemetery flags at the following cemeteries: New Vernon, Burlingham Rural Free, Poplar Grove at Phillipsport, and the Monument at the Phillipsport Community Center. May 27 - 10 a.m. Cemetery services at Burlingham Rural Free.

Sunday, May 27

Woodridge: 4 p.m. - Memorial Service at Veterans Park on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodridge. In the event of rain, the service will be held in the Village Hall.

Bloomingburg: 1 p.m. - VFW Post 4947 will host a Memorial Day Service at the Bloomingburg Cemetery. Public is invited and refreshments to follow at VFW Post 4947.

Tusten, Highland, Lumberland: VFW Post 6427 will have cemetery ceremonies to honor our deceased Veterans: 11 a.m. - Lava Cemetery, 11:30 a.m. - St. Francis Cemetery, Noon - Glen Cove Cemetery and 2 p.m. - Town of Tusten, - Ceremony at the Old Tusten Church.

Monday, May 28

Forestburgh: 9 a.m. “Memorial Day” Services will be conducted at the Veterans Triangle, Route 42 South, Forestburgh. Participating will be the local Veterans Organizations… all based in Monticello… The American Legion and The Veterans of Foreign Wars. Refreshments follow at the Fireman's Pavilion, hosted by the Forestburgh Fire Company. Al Etkin is Master of Ceremonies.

Monticello: 10:30 a.m. “Memorial Day” Ceremonies will be held at the County Government Center, 100 North Street, Monticello. The ceremonies will be hosted by the local Monticello-based Veterans Organizations…The American Legion and The Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Keynote Speaker will be Eugene Ratigliano, incoming commander for the Department of New York VFW. Al Etkin is Master of Ceremonies. Refreshments follow at the Elks Lodge on North Street.

Liberty: 10:30 a.m. On behalf of The Town of Liberty and Cpl. Russell D. Sprague American Legion Post 109, the Liberty Memorial Day Parade line-up on West Liberty Street and North Main Street at 10 a.m. The Parade will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. and travel through the business district in the Village of Liberty, proceed down Church Street, and end at the Liberty Veterans Cemetery on Cold Spring Road. Upon arriving at the cemetery, there will be a service to honor our War Heroes.

County Service - Liberty: 1 p.m. The Veterans Service Agency will provide a Memorial Day Service and Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Road, Liberty. Master of Ceremonies is John Crotty.

Wurtsboro: 1p.m. American Legion Post 1266 will host the Memorial Day Parade. At the conclusion of the parade “Memorial Services” will be held at the Veterans Park on Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro. Refreshments will be served at the Post home on 92 Pine Street.

Town of Mamakating: Shawanga Mountain V.F.W. Post 4947 - Dedication at Summitville Fire House at 9 a.m. and joining in the Memorial Day Parade in Wurtsboro (hosted by Mamakating American Legion Post 1266). Lineup is at 12:30 p.m., Step off is at 1 p.m.

Bethel: 11 a.m. Service at the Veterans Park, Kauneonga Lake. Please be early! Refreshments follow at the Town of Bethel Senior Building.

Fremont Center: 10 a.m.134th Annual Fremont Center Memorial Day Parade: 9 a.m. Road Closure; Memorial Service at the Veteran's Park (next to Town Barn) at 9:30 a.m. Please assemble at Town Barn by 9 a.m., parade transportation will be provided as needed. Call Tony (607) 290-4002.

Long Eddy: 1 p.m. The Allan Milk Memorial VFW Post 7276 will have services in Long Eddy Cemetery, luncheon to follow at Long Eddy Firehouse.

Neversink: 11 a.m. Flag Ceremony at the Flag Pole, Grahamsville Rural Cemetery. Flag Exchange: Fred Costa's Flag will come down and Vernon “Bud” Stratton's Flag will go up.

Eldred: 9 a.m. Sylvan Liebla American Legion Post 1363 will conduct a Memorial Service at Eldred Cemetery. 1 p.m. Tusten Highland Lumberland VFW Post 6427 and Sylvan Liebla American Legion Post 1363 will be doing a joint Memorial Service at Heroes Park, corner of Route 55 and Proctor Road, in Eldred.

Barryville: 9:20 a.m. Sylvan Liebla American Legion Post 1363 will conduct a Memorial Service at the Barryville Cemetery, Mail Road.

Lumberland: 9:45 a.m. Sylvan Liebla American Legion Post 1363 will conduct a Memorial Service at the Lumberland Cemetery, Hollow Road, Glen Spey. And then at 10 a.m. there will be a service at the Lumberland Town Hall (1054 Proctor Road, Glen Spey).

Roscoe: Parade starts at 10 a.m. with a Memorial Ceremony following immediately after at the Roscoe Fire House.

Livingston Manor: 10 a.m. - Livingston Manor Memorial Day Parade and Service: Line up at 9:30 a.m. at the Livingston Manor Central School, 19 School Street.