Memorial Day Service 2016

On Sunday May 29 2016 we went to Waregem to attend the Memorial Day Service at the Flanders Field American Cemetery. Before the ceremony started we layed flowers at the grave of Sgt Willis Lewis Burnworth, whom's grave we adopted in 2014.

The Memorial Day Service is organised by the American Overseas Memorial Day Association with the participation of USAG Brussels and USAG Benelux, Barracks of Ypres, Royal Band of the Belgian Navy and Waregem local Schools.

After the Representative of the Belgian King has arrives the ceremony starts with a Welcome from Chris Arsenault, Superintendent of Flanders Field American cemetery followed by the Invocation by a US Military Chaplain. The tributes are done by Vice Admiral John N. Christenson, USA Military Representative NATO, Mr Kurt Vanryckeghem, Mayor of Waregem and The Honorable Denis Campbell Bauer, Ambassador of the USA to the Kingdom of Belgium. It is a long tradition that schoolchildren of Waregem, age between 6 and 12 sing the National Anthems before the dignitaries lay their wreath. The laying of wreaths is followed by volley's, Taps and Raising of the Colors.

The final part of this ceremony consists of reading the poem "In Flanders Fields", the benediction and playing of the national Anthem of Belgium and the United States by the Royal Band of the Belgian Navy.

Although the sun was not present a lot of people were present. At the end a group of the adopters gathered together for a picture in front of the chapel.