Memorial Day
Monday - May 29, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.
Luminaries (Sunday, starting at 8:00 p.m.)
The American Legion Cemetery Corporation and "U.S.S. Tampa" Post 5 for over 100 years (since 1922) has observed Memorial Day in Tampa's only veterans cemetery.
Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend the event to honor the memory of our country's service members.
Sunday’s luminary observance requests that friends and family come out any time after 8:00 p.m. and have a moment of silence at the cemetery after sunset. No official ceremony will be presented. The Luminaries will be left out for visitations throughout the night with no official service or ceremony. The sight of all the candles lit is breathtaking and a symbol that we will never forget for our tomorrow, they gave their today. Volunteers will set up starting at 5:30 p.m.
The Memorial Day observance begins at 11:00 am.
The Memorial Service is organized by the American Legion Cemetery Corporation President Alyse Duffy and presented by Terry Doan (American Legion Post 5 Member and Board Member of the Cemetery) as the Master of Ceremonies. The first guest speaker will be Emily Peake, District winner of the American Legion Oratorical Contest, a sophomore at Cambridge Christian School, and placed 3rd in the Department of Florida Oratorical Contest as the youngest contestant. The second guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Jeremy “Scooby” J.C. Shoop (ret.) was a career Special Tactics Officer and served within Special Operations for three decades, the mainly as a plankholder with the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, an Air Force Special Operations Command unit. The ceremony will include special guests from the Boys State and Girls State Delegations. The invocation will be performed by Chaplain (Colonel) Eric J. Albertson is the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Command Chaplain as a special staff officer responsible for providing strategic guidance on spiritual, religious, and ethical matters pertaining to the force. Vocal tributes by Gail Cooper, American Legion Unit 5 member. The raising of the flags to full staff will still take place at the closing of the ceremony at 12:00pm (noon) to memorialize those who gave their lives serving the United States of America.
Feel free to bring a flag Monday and show support by flag waving along Kennedy Boulevard. Wreath registration is available if your group would like to place a remembrance wreath during the Post Everlasting portion of the ceremony to be part of the Roll Call. If any group would like to place their organization’s personalized remembrance wreath in the ceremony, bring it to the registration table between 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Memorial Day. All branches of the military will be represented, as well as the remembrance wreaths announcement.
Since 1922 the American Legion has been honoring the fallen with a Memorial Day Service. The event provides a venue for all ages to give thanks for our military’s sacrifices. The significance of the cost our soldiers have come to bear to preserve our way of life and the freedoms granted by their choices will never be forgotten. We asked them to give their all…they did. They ask to be remembered one day a year, and we will.
For special needs arrangements, directions, or questions please call (813) 870-0505.
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