Memorial DayMay 31, 2010

A tribute created by…

R. Lee Stevens

Music by:

~ Joseph Kilna McKenzie

~ Scottish Bag Pipes & Drum Corps

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national

commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were

placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at

Arlington National Cemetery.

“…we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. “

Thursday, November 19, 1863 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

President Abraham Lincoln

Charles Stuart MacKenzie, a sergeant in the Seaforth Highlanders, who along with hundreds of his brothers-in-arms from the Elgin-Rothes area in Moray,

Scotland went to fight in the Great War.

Sergeant MacKenzie was bayoneted to death at the age of 35, while defending one of his badly injured fellow soldiers in

the hand-to-hand fighting of the trenches.

Joseph MacKenzie wrote and sang a haunting lament in memory of his great-grandfather

"Sgt. MacKenzie" Lay me down in the cold cold groundWhere before many more have goneLay me down in the cold cold groundWhere before many more have gone

When they come I will stand my ground

Stand my ground, I’ll not be afraid

Thoughts of home take away my fearSweat and blood hide my veil of tears

Once a year say a prayer for meClose your eyes and remember me

Never more shall I see the sunFor I fell to a Germans gun

Lay me down in the cold cold groundWhere before many more have goneLay me down in the cold cold groundWhere before many more have gone

Where before many more have gone

STEVE L J LAVERTY Farwell , Michigan

CPL - E4 - Army - Selective Service 196th Light Infantry Brigade

His tour began on Oct 28, 1970Casualty was on Dec 31, 1970

 Panel 05W - Line 17

You who created us, who sustain us,

who call us to live in peace, hear our prayer this day.

Hear our prayer for all who have died,whose hearts and hopes are known to you alone…

Hear our prayer for those who put the welfare of othersahead of their own:give us hearts as generous as theirs…

Hear our prayer for those who gave their livesin the service of others,and accept the gift of their sacrifice…

Help us to shape and make a worldwhere we will put down the arms of warand live in the harvest of justice and peace…

Comfort those who grieve the loss of their loved ones:in our hearts let your healing be our hope.

Hear our prayer this dayand in your mercy answer usin the name of all that is holy.

Amen.

Remember Me…