Bay Church Near Delhi Hosting Decoration Day Program

The annual re-enactment of the first Decoration Day program is tonight at Bay Church & Cemetery southwest of Delhi.

Before Memorial Day was established, there was Decoration Day – it was established three years after the Civil War ended on May 5th, 1868. The purpose was for the nation to decorate – with flowers – the graves of all the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country during wartime. 

Upper Bay Cemetery Association Secretary Bob Sack says tonight’s program will be held in the shadow of Iowa’s first Civil War monument, which was created to honor 15 soldiers from the area who never returned home.

Sack says tonight’s Decoration Day program will take you back in time with re-enactors, traditional music selections from the Civil War period and a special guest speaker.

Tonight’s re-enactment of the first Decoration Day program will begin at 5:30 pm at the Bay Church and Cemetery, which is located five miles southwest of Delhi at 2131 275th Street. Everyone is welcome to attend, including children. Afterwards, the Bay Church will be open for tours and there will be fellowship and refreshments.

photo courtesy of Upper Bay Cemetery Association