Cover Photo by Mark R. Day

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Comments for Lexington park Medal of Honor Ceremony 9/30/2017


Comments for Lexington park Medal of Honor Ceremony 9/30/2017

Only a few short years ago, I was privileged to be part of the ceremonial guard for the unveiling of this magnificent statuary tribute to the three medal of honor awardees; Sgt. Harris, Pvt. Barnes, and Quartermaster Hayden, who’s service we are here to remember today and all the men of St. Mary’s County who placed their lives on the line to preserve the Union and free a people from bondage.

In our current era of history, when symbols have become front page news, this monument takes on even more importance.  A primary goal of the Sons of Union Veterans is the remembrance of men like those named on this monument.  We seek to, as we say, keep green the memory of the sacrifices made by both the soldier and his family to ensure that President Lincoln’s bold vision of emancipation and his pledge that “Government of the People, for the people, and by the people should not perish from the Earth” would prevail.

It was the men, whose names appear in such bold relief upon this monument, and many thousands of others who joined the United States Colored Troops, that took up the great work of fulfilling Lincoln’s call to complete the rebirth of our nation under the principles originally stated in Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence.   They were willing to commit their lives to a greater cause.  For they not only fought to preserve the Union and establish freedom in the United States; they fought to achieve respect and equality for an entire race of human being who had for too long lived under the shadow of oppression and servitude.

Insert Adlib – A previous speaker had noticed that the park was full of young men playing organized football as their parents watched from bleachers overlooking the fields.   I addressed those attending the Medal of Honor ceremony thusly “I would ask each of you, why aren’t those young men and their parents here with us?   Don’t they know how important remembering those who gave so much to ensure that they have the freedom they are enjoying?”   Let me say this.  I find no fault in the young men or their parents.  The fault lies in the lack of knowledge they have about the men named on this monument and that has led to their perceived indifference.  My mother once told me that if you are remembered you never die but if your name becomes lost to history and meaningless you truly die forever.   Will that be the fate of the names on this monument?  Only time will tell, but I pray it will not be so.

So, here we are.   We have come here to reaffirm these men and remember their names in a society that is less and less aware of them.  To us falls the obligation to ensure that these men do not die forever, that they are remembered by future generations for their dedication to the cause of freedom, and honored for their valor.   We, the living descendants and recipients of the freedoms and privileges they struggled to obtain; must fulfill our obligation to all the men who Lincoln said, “Gave the last full measure of devotion.”   We must hold ourselves accountable for preserving their memory and commit our every energy to educate our youth and perpetuate a sense of duty within society to never forget those of the past and their efforts to bequeath us the great nation we live in today.



Speech written and presented by Mark R. Day, September 30th 2017 at the 2nd Annual Medal of Honor Ceremony held by the Sgt. James H. Harris Camp #38 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War in Lexington Park, Maryland.  Copyright by Mark R. Day 9/30/2017, all rights reserved

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Welcoming remarks as MC of the Lincoln Death Day Luncheon

Brothers and Sisters,

I wish to welcome you to the Lincoln Death Day Luncheon.  It is my privilege and pleasure to be the Master of Ceremonies for this event as well as the earlier ceremonies at the Tomb.  I hope that each of you are enjoying the beautiful day that God has granted us and it is my heartfelt wish, that each of you have been able to connect with old friends or discover new friends with whom you will now share this meal.  Let this be a special time filled with the conversations and fond remembrances, which will strengthen the bonds of Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty that keep us steadfast in fulfilling our purposes as the Allied Orders and entreat us to act in harmony and with respect for each other.   For only in that manner can we ever hope to inculcate all citizens with a love for those who gave the last full measure of devotion to preserve this country, and more especially honor the memory of our beloved President Lincoln, whom we are gathered to honor.

Written and presented by Mark R. Day 4/15/17.  Copyright by Mark R. Day 4/15/17, all rights reserved.

Welcoming Remarks as MC for the Lincoln Death Day Ceremonies in Springfied, Ill. 4/15/17

Good morning!   Welcome to the annual Lincoln Death Day Ceremony.   I am Mark Day, SVCinC of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and today's Master of Ceremonies.  It is very fitting, that we gather here this morning for it was one hundred and fifty two years ago, this very day, that our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, succumbed to his assassins bullet and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton uttered that now famous statement "Now he belongs to the ages."  We now stand here, in front of Lincoln's final resting place as witnesses to the power and permanence of Stanton's words.    It is our duty and responsibility to inculcate our fellow citizens with the same sense of duty we carry within our hearts and to ensure the continuity of this tradition which honors the memory of Abraham Lincoln.  Let us never loose sight of that mission. 


Remarks Written by and presented by Mark R. Day 4/15/17.  Copyright by Mark R. Day 4/15/17, all rights reserved.