‘Avenue of Flags’ commemorates Memorial Day

By
Lucas Thors
-
2

Updated May 25, 7:30 pm

The annual “Avenue of Flags” at Oak Grove Cemetery in Tisbury honored the lives of those lost in the defense of our country.

At noon on Memorial Day, a number of veterans, current servicemembers, law enforcement, and members of the public gathered near the cemetery war monuments and held a small but heartfelt ceremony. Some folks lined up in their cars at the cemetery to witness the ceremony, as a commemorative wreath was laid on each of the monuments listing the names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. 

Former veterans service agent and American Legion commander Jo Ann Murphy thanked the folks who gathered to witness and take part in the ceremony, and noted that although the circumstances this year are different, she is happy the town of Tisbury was able to do something to honor our fallen servicemembers.

“I am sorry this is the way we have to remember Memorial Day, but the Legion thought it would be wrong to not do anything,” Murphy said.

The first wreath to be laid was the one remembering the lives lost in World War I, which women from the American Legion Auxiliary carried over and placed gently on the stone.

Murphy then laid a wreath on the World War II monument, which also contains names of service members who died in the Korean War.

The last wreath to be laid was the one dedicated to those who fought and gave their lives in the Vietnam War. After the ceremony, Tisbury Fire Chief John Schilling played “Taps.”

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

2 COMMENTS

  1. Thank you for the beautiful pictures but we are not in the Coast Guard Auxilary, we are members of the American Legion Auxilary Post 257 Vineyard Haven Phyllis Williams

  2. I hate to keep correcting your reporters but it is their job to report things correctly so the readers are able to have come confidence in their accurate, factual reporting.

    He stated, Before the ceremony, Tisbury Fire Chief John Schilling played “Taps.”
    The picture states he played taps `after` the ceremony which was obviously correct as with all military functions.

    Also he states, the first wreath to be laid was laid by women from the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
    It was actually laid by our Vineyard Haven Legion Post`s Woman’s Auxiliary.
    To my knowledge there is no such group of “women from the Coast Guard Auxiliary” on Martha’s Vineyard Island.
    Just wanted to point that out to you.

Comments are closed.