Lincoln’s Cottage will again offer a fascinating slate of activities on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, at the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
Events include a 10 a.m. wreath-laying ceremony and free tours of the historic national cemetery, “the first Arlington,” north of the Home grounds at 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. There is also free picnicking on the Cottage grounds. Lincoln’s Cottage itself will be open for paid tours as normal.
Friends of the Soldiers Home has been a proud partner of Lincoln’s Cottage since our group was formed in November 2011. The Cottage, where President Lincoln lived for 25% of his presidency, helps make the campus a special, historic place. Some of us from Friends of the Soldiers Home attended last year’s Memorial Day activities, and we can tell you, this event is well worth the visit.
How lucky we are to have veterans in our community whom we will honor on Memorial Day, and the Cottage to help us pay tribute to President Lincoln and our nation’s history. Friends of the Soldiers Home is grateful to our veterans and the Cottage for contributing so much to our community.
The full announcement from Lincoln’s Cottage follows here:
Washington, D.C. – President Lincoln’s Cottage will host an array of activities on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th, to honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. military.
Family-friendly activities include guided tours of the first National Cemetery, commemorative ceremonies honoring veterans at multiple locations, picnicking opportunities on the grounds of the Soldiers Home, and tours of President Lincoln’s Cottage, the seasonal residence of the Lincoln family during the Civil War.
President Lincoln’s Cottage is presenting these programs in partnership with the Armed Forces Retirement Home, the National Park Service and the Illinois State Society. Registrations requested; visit www.LincolnCottage.org/MemorialDay2013 to register and learn more information.
Sailors from the USS Abraham Lincoln will be present at a wreath-laying ceremony at the U.S. Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home (USSAH) National Cemetery at 10 a.m. Visitors will then have the rare opportunity to take guided historical tours of the USSAH National Cemetery, predecessor of Arlington National Cemetery, at 10:45 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Visitors are encouraged to pack a picnic and enjoy lunch on the south lawn of the Cottage and at the picnic tables behind the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center.
Tours of the Cottage will be offered on the hour between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., and entrance to the Cottage is by admission only ($15 for adults, $5 for children, military and other discounts available).
A ceremony honoring John A. Logan, a Civil War general and a leader in the movement to make Memorial Day a national holiday, will take place further downtown at Logan Circle at 2 p.m. The wreath-laying ceremony, cemetery tours, access to picnic grounds, and Logan ceremony are free of charge.
The weather was perfect and the Murrieta Valley, Calif., High School Band and Color Guard was outstanding at a free outdoor concert for veterans and the community at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in D.C. on Saturday, May 24. Band Director Neil Anderson provided interesting commentary for “America the Beautiful,” songs by Irving Berlin and other patriotic tunes performed by the 76-piece band. This was the group’s first stop on a three-day D.C. tour that included performances at the Air Force Memorial and in the downtown Memorial Day parade. Friends of the Soldiers Home was proud to help organize this event and show the depth of appreciation we feel toward our veteran friends on a special weekend.
