Each year on Memorial Day a service is held at the American Cemetery at Madingley in Cambridge, UK.
The Memorial Day Ceremony took place at Madingley, Cambridge, UK on 25 May 2009. The Service began at 11am.
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Order of Service
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Arrival of Official Party
Posting of Colors
RAF Mildenhall Honor Guard
The British National Anthem/ The United States National Anthem
The United States Air Forces in Europe Band
Introduction
Lt Col David E Stookey
Commander, 100th Communications Squadron
Master of Ceremonies
Welcome Remarks
Mr Richard LeBaron
Charge d’Affaires ad interim
Invocation
Chaplain, Major Stuart King
100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall
Opening Remarks
Mr Hugh Duberly
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire
Address
Ms Jonna Doolittle Hoppes
Cemetery History
Recognition of Veterans
Moment of Silence
Presentation of Floral Decorations
Prayer of Remembrance
Fly-by Tributes
KC-135 from RAF Mildenhall
Firing of Volleys/Taps
RAF Mildenhall Honor Guard
Fly-by Tributes
F-15C Missing Man Formation from RAF Lakenheath
Closing Remarks / End of Ceremony
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The Official Programme lists 111 Floral Decoration Presentation tributes to the fallen.
This programme also contains the following:
Heroes of America – Remembered in England
Today’s memorial ceremony is held in a tiny piece of England’s “green and pleasant land” given by the University of Cambridge to the United States of America to remember their fallen. The cemetery was first established December 7 1943, the second anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Construction of the cemetery and memorial was completed in 1956, and was dedicated on July 16th of that year. East Anglia was used extensively during World War II, and a great number of airfields sprang up all over its flat landscape, as it made an ideal natural landing field for aircraft. Also, East Anglia is an area where a large number of American casualties occurred. There are 3,811 American war dead buried at the cemetery. In addition, a few non-American citizens are interned who died in the service of the United States during the Second World War.
Freedoms’ Memorial
This day is set aside to honor those
who took the chance to die.
But they have died in vain
if we ever forget the reason why.
Freedom can be like time slipping away
before we even know.
But we all have the choice more,
a duty to battle freedoms’ foe.
Let us give thanks this day to all those brave
who paid the highest cost.
Not take it for granted and realize
it easily could be lost.
The Wall of the Missing
“The Americans, whose names appear here, were part of the price that free men for the second time in this century have been forced to pay to defend human liberty and rights.
All who shall hereafter live in freedom will be here reminded that to these men and their comrades we owe a debt to be paid with grateful remembrance of their sacrifice and high resolve that the cause for which they died shall liver eternally.”
PRESIDENT DWIGHT D EISENHOWER
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The following selection of photographs give a flavour of the 2009 Memorial Day at Madingley.
2009 Memorial Service - 489th Bomb Group Wreath
2009 - BEFORE THE SERVICE
2009 - Floral Tributes are delivered to the cemetery
2009 - Ms Jonna Doolittle Hoppes with Officials on the Chapel steps
2009 - The Chapel
2009 - Music from the USAFE Band
The wreath carriers (military volunteers) assemble before the service
2009 - The Posting of Colors - RAF Mildenhall Honor Guard
The wreath carriers (military volunteers) move into position along the Wall of the Mission
Each wreath carrier holds an organization's wreath and has an identifying number clipped to their jacket.
2009 - 111+ floral tributes are carried the entire length of The Wall of the Missing
2009 - The wreath presenters move into position in front of their own organization's wreath
The wreath presenters in position
More wreath presenters take their places in front of their floral tributes
The wreath carriers depart
The wreath presenters await their direction from the Master of Ceremonies
2009 The Presentation of the Floral Decorations - followed by a moment of Silence and a Prayer of Remembrance.
2009 The wreath presenters return to their seats
489th Friend, Sue Bacle returns after laying the 489th tribute
2009 KC-135 from RAF Mildenhall
2009 F-15C Missing Man Formation from RAF Lakenheath
2009 - The Memorial Day Service comes to a close
489th Friend Marjorie Shiers with tribute to the 489th
2009 Friends of the 489th
2009 Madingley Memorial Cemetery
2009 Madingley Memorial Cemetery
2009 - Madingley Memorial Cemetery
2009 - Madingley Memorial Cemetery
2009 - Madingley Memorial Cemetery
2009 - Robert Clendenning Jr., 1 Lt, 846th Bomb Squadron, 489 Bomb Group (H), New Jersey - Sept 27 1944
2009 - Flower beds beside the Chapel
2009 - The Chapel and cemetery
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General notes on Memorial Day at Madingley:
2007 Memorial Day at the American Cemetery Madingley Cambridge
The service is a joint event organised by the US Embassy, the Third Air Force and Cemetery staff. Invitations to attend are sent by the American Ambassador. It is an outdoor service and goes ahead whatever the weather.
28 May 2006 Memorial Day - Chapel at Madingley
The service each year follows a similar format with the Posting of Colors, the National Anthems of both nations, Welcome, Invocation, Address, followed by the Recognition of Veterans and the Presentation of Floral Decorations. A Moment of Silence is followed by a Prayer of Remembrance. After a Firing of Volleys, the flag is raised and Taps is played.
The service is followed by the United States Air Force “Missing Man” formation and sometimes a WWII aircraft.
2006 Memorial Day Service at Madingley - The Colour Party from the Royal British Legion
Every year the Friends of the 489th lay a floral wreath in remembrance of the servicemen lost whilst stationed on Holton (Halesworth) airfield. On a number of occasions, 489th veterans have been present.
2008 - 489th Veteran John Lamar lays the wreath on Memorial Day