Col. Michael Birmingham, US Army, Retired, Delivers his Message to a SRO Crowd at Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Today.

Some Parade Members Carried Signs Naming the Nation’s Wars and the Number of Casualties Therein. Former President Joe Biden Ended the War in Afganistan During his Presiency.

The Riderless Horse Participated in the Twelfth Annual Memorial Day Parade at Evergreen Cemetery  on Stevens Avenue This Afternoon.

“And so to honor those who gave their lives in service of our republic, we need to strive to be citizens and neighbors that are worthy of their sacrifice, that build and improve our nation and bring Americans together.” said Col. Michael Birmingham, US Army, Retired, at the Twelfth Annual Memorial Day celebration this afternoon at the historic Evergreen Cemetery, in the Deering section of Portland.

Col. Birminghamm, who served as an armored tank commander in Iraq and Afghanistan,  urged the crowd to “engage in reasonable democratic debate, attempting to understand each other rather than vilifying those we disagree with.  We need to demand that the behavior and policies of ALL of our leaders, live up to the ideals of our nation’s founders, that self-interest be tempered by civic duty, and that in the future when we consider war and the use of force – we remember the cost – not in the abstract – but with its human face.”

In the crowd under the white tent erected in front of the Wilde Chapel, was the Colonel’s son Jackson, who is a high school senior.  Prior to the ceremony, Jackson told this blogger that he does not believe that the military is a good place to be right now.  Rather, he plans to attend Gordon College in the fall to study to become a psychologist.  That’s his goal so he can help soldiers on their return from overseas deployment adjust to non-war life.  His mother Captain Teresa Birmingham, US Army Veteran Retired,  read “Absolution” a poem by Siergried Sassoon.  She was the first woman soldier to arrive on the ground in Kosovo.

In between the Reading of Veterans names who died in mililtry service and are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, and the laying of flowers, Tom Dyhrberg, changed the flow of the occasion with his renditions of “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”  This is the fifth appearance by Mr. Dyhrberg in this Memorial Day ceremony.  He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, Boston, where Composition was his major.  For more, please visit:  tomdyhrberg@gmail.com

In his opening remarks, Col. Birmingham stated that “Memorial Day is a challenging holiday.” Not every one has experienced the loss of someone in the military,” he said.   For some, its simply a day off from work. For others, it’s a chance to go to the beach or the golf course.  But he urged everyone listening on this bright sunny day in Portland to do their best to honor their sacrifice and give Memorial Day significance by ‘being worthy of it, both individually and as a nation.”

Bobbi Cope, long time resident of Portand, was the organizer and MC of the event today.

For background informtion on this event, please visit post herein dated May 24, 2025.