FORT WORTH, Texas, May 19, 2022– After two Pandemic years and without public audiences, the 93rd Annual Fort Worth Memorial Day Service at Mount Olivet Cemetery will again be open to the public this year at the historic cemetery located at 2301 North Sylvania Avenue at Northeast 28th Street. The one-hour service will begin promptly at a new start time of 10:00 a.m. on Memorial Day, May 30th, and last one hour.
Included within the one-hour service will be presentations by Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker before the keynote address by Capt. Mark McLean, Commander of NAS JRB Fort Worth. A slight change in the 93rd Annual Fort Worth Memorial Day Service at Mount Olivet Cemetery. The Flyover of the 301st Fighter Wing will take place near the end of service with the 21-gun salute and retirement of the colors.
The Fort Worth Memorial Day Service at Mount Olivet Cemetery is one of the oldest and largest Memorial Day Services in the Southwest United States. This year’s program will carry the theme,
“ONE DAY. ONE HOUR. TO REMEMBER.”
Since 1930, Mount Olivet has sponsored the ceremonies near the middle of the cemetery, adjacent to two life-size bronze statues that were commissioned to honor the many war dead that are buried on the sacred grounds. One statue portrays a modern American infantryman and the other depicts a World War I “Doughboy.” The Doughboy statue was unveiled in December of 1929 and the first Mount Olivet Memorial Day Service was held the following May. 500 – 700 people are expected to attend the annual event to honor the memory of the many military heroes from past and present generations that have died in the line of duty. Seating is provided and the service is free of charge.
Other Memorial Day service highlights will include patriotic musical selections from the Moslah Shrine Band, National Anthem, sung by Chief Zachiery Easterling USN, and a Military Color Guard. Various veteran and patriotic organizations will participate in the ceremonial “Placing of the Wreaths,” culminating with the playing of “Taps” by Bugler Kyle Hantz, a 21-gun salute by U.S. Marine Riffle Detail, and Amazing Grace played on bagpipes by the popular retired firefighter Lt. Steve Creed and with a benediction by U.S. Navy Chaplain Gregg Hazlett. Scout Troop 50 will serve as ushers, and will also retire the colors. Master of Ceremonies for the service will be former Fort Worth City Councilman, Lt. Col. Jungus Jordan, USAF Ret.
The Fort Worth Memorial Day Service at Mount Olivet Cemetery is a family tradition and has long been a feature of television and newspaper reports. American flags will line the parkway within the cemetery to provide a picturesque and patriotic backdrop for the services. The colorful “Avenue of Flags” is composed of burial flags given to families of deceased veterans by the U.S. government and flown only on special honor days.
Immediately following the cemetery service, an escorted motorcade will form at the Watauga Street entrance of the cemetery and proceed to the East Northside Drive Bridge, adjacent to the Tarrant Regional Water District offices, for a brief Naval Service conducted by Chaplain Greg Hazlett, U.S. Navy. Wreaths will be cast onto the Trinity River from high atop the bridge, with the Fort Worth skyline as a backdrop, in memory of the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine war dead.
In the event of rain, services will be held in the funeral home chapel located on the cemetery grounds. All service times will remain the same.
Editor’s Note: This press release has been updated