Antietam National Battlefield and the Town of Sharpsburg Honor Veterans during Memorial Day Weekend

Author: Brad Hopkins, ITP Admin | Published: 05/25/2012 | 311 Views | Short URL: http://itpwv.com/local/n/8880

Sharpsburg, MD—The 145th Memorial Day Commemoration will be held in Sharpsburg, Maryland on Saturday, May 26, 2012.

One of the oldest Memorial Day traditions in the United States will continue on Saturday beginning with a wreath laying ceremony at the Sharpsburg Town Hall at 11:00 a.m., followed by the Annual Memorial Day Parade at 1:30 p.m. In honor of the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Antietam, this year’s parade Grand Marshall will be Dr. Susan Trail, Superintendent, Antietam National Battlefield.

Following the parade at 3:00 p.m., the commemoration at the Antietam National Cemetery will take place. The ceremony will consist of music presented by the Boonsboro High School Band and the Wildcat Regiment Brass Band.  The keynote speaker will be Lieutenant Colonel James A. Rosebrock, United States Army Reserve (Retired).  The ceremony will conclude with the memorial service and flag presentation by the 167th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard Base Honor Guard and three volleys from the park’s living history volunteers. All are invited to attend this ceremony.  The Antietam National Cemetery is located on Maryland Rout 34 just east of Sharpsburg.

There will also be a free evening concert by the Wildcat Regiment Brass Band at the Maryland Monument near the Antietam Visitor Center at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 26.

The public, local residents, and battlefield visitors should be prepared for traffic delays in and around Sharpsburg on Maryland Routes 34 and 65 from about 1:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. and consider alternate routes as appropriate. The parade begins at the Sharpsburg Elementary School, proceeds along Main Street (Route 34) and ends at the Antietam National Cemetery.

For additional information please contact the park staff at the Antietam National Battlefield Visitor Center at 301-432-5124.