PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Presque Isle Historical Society will be hosting a short ceremony at the Civil War Monument in the Fairmount Cemetery at 2 Houlton Rd. on Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m. to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the end of the American Civil War and the establishment of the national holiday we know today as Memorial Day.
The Civil War, 1861-65, was the deadliest war in the history of the United States with over 720,000 deaths — both soldiers and civilians. This war represented the first time that families did not always have the bodies of their loved ones to bury. As a result, many societal changes took place.
Some of these include wearing black to symbolize mourning, making and displaying memorials to our deceased loved ones, and erecting monuments. There are 147 monuments in Maine memorializing those who lost their lives in the Civil War. Most of these were constructed after 1890. Presque Isle’s monument was built in 1873 and dedicated in 1874, making it the first in Aroostook County and one of the first in Maine.
In 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, Decoration Day was established and observed on May 30. It was on this date that families annually decorated the graves of war dead with flowers. It wasn’t until 1971, however, that Decoration Day or Memorial Day was expanded to honor those who died in all American wars. The observance was then changed to the last Monday in May.
The ceremony is open to the public with free parking across the street at the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce. There will be a brief presentation by the Historical Society on the impact of the Civil War on Presque Isle and the history of the monument, as well as that of Decoration Day. A bell ringing will be held as the names of those listed on the monument are read. Special guests include Easton resident Paul Dudley of Company B, 20th Maine.
Presque Isle Historical Society was founded in 1963 to study, promote and preserve the history, culture, heritage and physical artifacts of Presque Isle for present and future generations. For more information on this event or any of the programs of Presque Isle Historical Society, or to make a tax deductible contribution, visit www.pihistory.org, call 762-1151, or email pihistoricalsociety@hotmail.com.
