Memorial Day events in County Mayo

The Mayo Peace Park and The American Legion invite you to observe Memorial Day 2013 with the grave rededications of Marin Davin and Patrick Scahill. These veterans were in the U.S. Army, and were killed in action in France in 1918, during World War 1. Both men were buried in a U.S. cemetery in France, but brought back to Ireland in May 1922 at their families’ request and buried without a U.S. graveside ceremony. After more than 90 years, The American Legion will have the honor of acting as honor guards at the grave side on Saturday, 25 May at Burriscarra and Mayo Abbey cemeteries. The grave markers will be unveiled; a U.S. burial flag will be folded and presented to the families on behalf of the citizens of a grateful nation in America; and a bugler will play “The Last Call” or Taps.

Meet up at the Mayo Peace Park, town centre, Castlebar, County Mayo at 11:30 to carpool at noon to Burriscarra cemetery for Pvt. Scahill, followed by a short trip to Mayo Abbey cemetery for Pvt. Davin’s ceremony. Return to Mayo Peace Park for a wreath-laying ceremony by visiting guests:
Commander of the Korean War Veterans Association LT Witmore and National Chaplin Leo Ruffing, both from Florida;
Department of France Vice Commander Steve Ward from Germany;
and a U.S. Embassy Dublin Defence Attaché.