It’s a day that began for the purpose of honoring the war dead from the Civil War and has developed into a day filled with parades and pageantry. But the roots are remembered.
The first Memorial Day was in 1868 and was known as Decoration Day to honor those who fell in the war between the states. Yet that first Decoration Day came after several states held their own ceremonies. That local tradition continues across the country and across the Brandywine Valley.
A small, solemn ceremony is held every Memorial Day at the Brandywine Baptist Church in Chadds Ford Township. It features guest speakers, an honor guard, with rifle salute, and the placing of flowers on the graves of former U.S. military personnel who are buried in the church cemetery.
Kennett Square has its own parade with veterans, a uniformed color guard, music, dancers and other street performers.
The following are images from Memorial Day 2023 in Chadds Ford and Kennett Square.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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