Pioneer Cemeteries and Their Stories,

Madison County, Indiana

Weddington Rededication Ceremony

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Weddington Cemetery Rededication Ceremonies

May 20, 2000

Three years in reconstruction, the Weddington Cemetery was rededicated in the spring of 2000.  Pictured here are the justifiably proud members of the Madison County Cemetery Commission responsible for completion of this arduous task: from left to right, John Brundage, Ranny Simmons, Nancy Draper, and Rob Hains in uniform.  The fifth member of the MCCC was Georgia Lyons, not pictured.

 

                   

 

Rob had good reason to be in uniform.  The rededication ceremony for the Weddington was a social event for the Alexandria, Monroe Township community.  Among those buried at the Weddington were soldiers from the War of 1812 and the Civil War.  Modern veterans and re-enactors provided military tradition, patriotism, and color.  Students from Highland High School helped plan the festivities and sang the national anthem.  Highland bagpipers played "Amazing Grace." 

 

 

The picture above and the one to the right, show War of 1812 re-enactors, complete with cannon.  Not just for looks, the cannon was fully operational, providing realism and solemnity to the ceremonies.  After the service records of the six interred veterans were read, the re-enactors honored the soldiers with a cannon volley.  MCCC chairperson John Brundage made arrangements for the six to have new government veteran gravestones through the Madison County Veteran Affairs.

 

 

 

 

Above: Re-enactors of the Civil War honor the three Civil War veterans buried at the Weddington.

 

Below:  The American Legion ceremonial firing squad gives a backdrop for the gravestones, now reset in cement.  The metal frames help hold the once broken pieces together.  The squad's twenty-one gun salute preceded the playing of "Taps."

 

 

 

Above:  Madison County Board of Commissioners, workers, volunteers, descendents, genealogists, and neighbors were in attendance.

 

Below: A tombstone from the mid 1800s, as well as the seventy others, can now clearly be appreciated.

 

 

WEDDINGTON CEMETERY DEDICATION

SATURDAY MAY 20, 2000

GUESTS AND SPEAKER WALK TO SITE AND ASSEMBLE ON SOUTH SIDE OF CEMETERY

EULOGY: NORMAN PARR, AMERICAN LEGION POST 87

NATIONAL ANTHEM: SINGERS FROM HIGHLAND LEADING AUDIENCE

DEDICATION POEM: ROBERT HAINS

ADDRESS "THE CITIZEN SOLDIER": MELVIN BIDDLE, LAST LIVING HOOSIER RECIPIENT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: JOHN BRUNDAGE, CHAIRMAN OF THE MADISON COUNTY CEMETERY COMMISSION

READING OF SERVICE RECORDS OF VETERANS INTERRED IN WEDDINGTION CEMETERY: HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL HONORS GOVERNMENT

TWENTY-ONE GUN SALUTE: CANNON--2ND ARTILLERY, WAR OF 1812, COMPANY K, 19TH INDIANA INFANTRY, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, POST 266

TAPS: TRUMPET--HIGHLAND BAND

For another ceremony, see the Cottrell Cemetery Rededication.