The University of Tennessee at Martin is gearing up to honor fallen soldiers with its 25th Memorial Day Commemoration ceremony. Slated for 9 a.m. on Friday, May 23, on the north plaza between the Boling University Center and the Paul Meek Library, the ceremony promises a schedule steeped in tradition and remembrance. U.S. Representative David Kustoff and retired Maj. Gen. Mike Maloan is among the expected luminaries. For those wishing to attend, parking spaces will be readily available in the nearby university center and library lots. In a nod to accessibility and inclusion, the event openly welcomes the public, although no digital attendance options such as a live webcast or a subsequent recording will be provided, according to UTM News.
Representing Tennessee's 8th District, Kustoff, a seasoned politician serving his fifth term, is expected to offer a Legislative Welcome. Bringing with him his experiences from the oldest committee in Congress, the House Committee on Ways and Means, Kustoff is bound to also draw upon his subcommittee roles in tax and health. His roots firmly planted in Shelby County, he proudly calls Germantown home. Joining him on stage, Maj. Gen. Mike Maloan, a retired military leader and a voice of legal jurisprudence in the 27th District Chancery Court, is set to enrich the proceedings as the guest speaker. Maloan's military credentials span from a direct commission in 1988 to his eventual ascent to the pinnacle of legal counsel for Tennessee's military as the Staff Judge Advocate.
Further contributions to the ceremony will include local talent and university affiliates. Madison Butner, a senior music major, is slated to sing the national anthem. Other participatory acts comprise a 21-gun salute jointly delivered by the university’s Department of Public Safety and Martin Police Department, and the solemn sound of taps played by recent music graduate Jonah Simmons. The invocation and benediction are entrusted to U.S. Navy retired Chaplain Debra McGuire. In addition to the floral display of patriotism during the color presentation by UT Martin Army ROTC Skyhawk Battalion cadets, attendees will hear from Dr. Yancy Freeman Sr., who will dispense a university welcome. Presiding over the commemoration as master of ceremonies is Lt. Col. Bernard House, a university professor who embodies military science.
The context of the ceremony is rooted deeply in American tradition, dating back to 1868 when Memorial Day was originally christened Decoration Day. It underwent a name change in 1882 but wasn't officially recognized as a national holiday until 1971. Always observed on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day solemnly acknowledges and honors the service and ultimate sacrifice of U.S. military personnel. The institution, in a move to preemptively address any weather-induced impediments, has designated Watkins Auditorium as the alternative venue. For those seeking further details, UTM's Office of University Relations serves as the beacon of information, reachable at their provided phone line, as reported by UTM News.
