Green-Wood’s annual Memorial Day concert has become a true neighborhood favorite. The concert features the ISO Symphonic Band, founded in 1995 to sponsor talented students throughout New York City and led by ISO’s inimitable founder and conductor Brian P. Worsdale. Each year we feature the works of Green-Wood’s permanent residents Fred Ebb, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Leonard Bernstein, and many others. Bring a blanket and enjoy this early summer performance.
On Memorial Day Weekend of 2011, the Green-Wood Historic Fund commemorated the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War with stirring events throughout Green-Wood Cemetery. Click here for NY1 video coverage of the weekend, and click play below to watch video coverage from CNN.
Those interested in our compilation CD of Green-Wood Civil War veteran biographies, as mentioned in Associated Press coverage, should click here to purchase the CD from our store for $10.
SUNDAY EVENING: THE GRAND PROCESSION
Led by cavalry and musicians, our procession wound past thousands of candlelit graves of Civil War veterans. Click here more information, and click play below to watch a photo slideshow from the procession.
MONDAY MORNING: THE MARCH OF HONOR
Walking with descendants of Civil War veterans to the graves of men who died at Shiloh, Antietam and Gettysburg. Ceremonies included artillery rifle salutes and musical tributes. Click here for more information.
MONDAY AFTERNOON: FREE MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT
Melodies of the Civil War in addition to the works of Green-Wood’s permanent residents Leonard Bernstein, Fred Ebb, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, and others. Click here for more information.
ALL WEEKEND: “HONORING THEIR SACRIFICE” EXHIBITION
This exhibition features fascinating artifacts from the Civil War, much of it never before displayed in public. Open until June 12th from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM weekdays, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM weekends. Click here for more information.
On Sunday, May 29, at 7:00 p.m., Brooklyn’s historic Green-Wood Cemetery glowed with the light from 4,500 candlelit graves of Civil War veterans as the Green-Wood Historic Fund hosted a series of commemorative events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Hundreds of musicians, uniformed re-enactors, historians, descendants, and members of the community gathered to participate in these unique tributes. Green-Wood is serving as a Civil War Sesquicentennial Headquarters in New York as our nation marks this historic milestone. More than 4,500 Civil War veterans are interred at Green-Wood. Click play below to watch video coverage from the Associated Press:
The evening began with a musical tribute as musicians, singers and re-enactors assembled to hear Civil War melodies and talk with historians well-versed in the stories of the Civil War. An 11-piece brass band, fiddlers and singers was on hand. Visitors were then be led by cavalry as the Grand Procession wound through the historic grounds and past the candlelit graves, guarded by uniformed re-enactors and serenaded by musicians and singers. Additionally, a special multi-media exhibition “Honoring Their Sacrifice” opened in the Historic Chapel. Participants could also visit the Union and Confederate encampments where re-enactors shared historical details and stories of the Civil War.
On Monday, May 30th, at 11:00 a.m. hundreds gathered to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War as the Green-Wood Historic Fund held a solemn Honor March to the Civil War Soldiers’ Lot, where 127 veterans are buried – many of whom shed their blood at Antietam, Shiloh and Gettysburg. In total, more than 4,500 Civil war Veterans are interred in Green-Wood Cemetery. Descendants and re-enactors read the names of many of the men for whom Green-Wood is the “final camping ground.” Songs were sung and artillery and musket salutes were fired by uniformed re-enactors.
Memorial Day Concert at 3 p.m.: Now in its 13th year, Green-Wood’s annual Memorial Day concert has become a true neighborhood favorite. The concert features the ISO Symphonic Band, which was founded in 1995 to sponsor talented students throughout New York City. Led by ISO’s inimitable founder and conductor Brian P. Worsdale. This year, melodies of the Civil War were featured in addition to the works of Green-Wood’s permanent residents Fred Ebb, Louis Moreau Gottschalk, Leonard Bernstein and many others.
Scroll down to watch photo slideshows from past Memorial Day events at Green-Wood.