5.15.2026 - Civil War Monument Ceremony at Oak Grove Cemetery

I think that'll do it. Good morning everyone. My name is Taylor Ferris and I am honored to serve as the director of veteran services for the city of Fall River. On behalf of the city of Fall River Department of Veteran Services and the Greater Fall River Veterans Alliance, welcome to Oakgrove Cemetery as we gather to honor the memory and sacrifice of the soldiers and sailors connected to the Civil War.

At this time, I would like to ask everyone to please rise for the presentation of colors followed by the national anthem.

Please remain standing and join me in the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please take your seats.

At this time, it is my honor and pleasure to welcome forward Father Rob Nykovich to offer us today's invocation.

I'd like to start this morning by sharing some words of President Abraham Lincoln. November 19th, 1863 from the Gettysburg address. For scor and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. But in a larger sense, we cannot dictate. We cannot consecrate. We cannot hallow this ground. The brave men living

and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here.

But it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work for which they who fought here have thus far nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they gave the full measure of devotion. that we were

highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. And now for the invocation, I'm going to offer a prayer that President Abraham Lincoln offered in Washington DC on March 4th, 1865 for our country. Please join me in

prayer. Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage, we beseech you that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable ministry, sound learning and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion, from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way.

defend our liberties and fashion us into one united people, the multitude brought here out of many kindred and tongues.

Endow with your spirit of wisdom, those in whom your name we entrust the authority of government, that there they may be just in peace at home and through that obedience to your law may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness.

In the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in you to fail. All of which we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thank you, Father Rob.

I would like to recognize our special guest, Mayor Paul Coogan, State Representatives Carol Fiola and Alan Sylvia. As well, we have our city councilors, uh, Michael Canuel and Chris Peekham. Also in attendance is school committee woman Chanel Stewart.

First, I would like to recognize, uh, the staff and students of the Evolve program for joining us here today and helping preserve the importance of remembrance, service, and community for the future generations.

At this time, I would like to invite Mayor Paul Coogan forward to offer us remarks.

Um, it's great to be here in Oak Grove Cemetery today with all of you to acknowledge the unbelievable sacrifices.

I think 160 people from Fall River died in the Civil War fighting for freedom in our country and this was a really unique war in this in the United States because it was state versus state. So I encourage all of all attending today, especially the young people to go back and do their studies on the history of Fall River related to the Civil War. We were an active stop on the Underground

Railroad. We made sacrifices up and down to make sure that the North was able to free people to give everybody a chance to celebrate life in our great great country. So thanks for coming out today.

I want to thank all the people here and I appreciate everybody. Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor Coogan. Next, I would like to invite State Representative Carol Fiella forward to offer us a few mark remarks.

Thank you, Talos. Great to be with you all once again. I don't know how many years we've been doing this here, but uh I think it was city councelor uh Ray Mitchell that started this with city councelor Linda Pereira. And I see our special guests, the little ones from the preschool are starting to come in the uh cemetery here to join us. Um the only thing I want to add is, you know, we

talk about the Civil War, the bloodiest, the one where most the more lives were lost than any of our wars.

But it just reminds me of all those years ago and we still come together to honor and to remember those ultimate sacrifices. And I would also just like to add to our public safety personnel that are here today led by the chief.

Thank you. Because together, our veterans, our war heroes, our our men at war and women today, even all these years later, we're still at war. And we will continue to thank you, for keeping us safe, for protecting us, and we will never ever forget here in the city of Fall River ever. So, thank you.

Next, I would like to welcome up State Representative Alan Sylvia to offer us remarks.

Thank you. Uh, for so many years, I I cannot count how many we have been kicking off Memorial Day events here um at the cemetery. And fittingly so, it is where our Civil War dead are buried.

Some of them cost um Carol mentioned the numbers of people lost during that war.

It was 800,000.

Incredible number when we think of all of the wars. That is the most lost of of of our lifetime.

Um, a little bit of history.

In on July 4th, 1868, this entire area was dedicated where we're standing today over 150 years ago. It was dedicated to these Civil War veterans, 1868. And a gentleman by the name of Colonel Richard Bordon who was an industrialist. He owned the mills in some mills in Fall River. He paid for this for this monument and he had bodies moved where families had buried them in other locations in

Fall River to this site. So historically it's it's extremely important. What's most important are the values that they died for for freedom, for equality, for democracy.

The same values we have today. Those values 150 years plus later are still most important to us. So, uh, thank you all for being here. Very important to kick off our events here in Fall River.

Thank you.

Thank you, Representative Sylvia. Uh, also like to welcome forward city councelor Chris Peekham to offer his remarks.

Good morning. I was driving in today and I was praying and I was asking the Lord, what does this day mean? What am I going to come and say? What am I going to come and witness? And the word progression came to mind.

And I I I thought about it and I I thought of the the men that have served, the women that have served, uh and the the purpose for Memorial Day and Memorial Day week and these these ceremonies that that we attend, it's all about the advancement of what we find um is going to be relevant and fruitful to our community. Okay? And even back then, they took on a cause and they lost their

lives. They lost their mental well-being. they lost their their way um to give back to their community. So by progress and cause, I just call on everybody in this community.

If you find something that is not within how you want it to be within the municipality, within the Commonwealth, within the country, stand up for it and speak for it because that's what these men did and that's what the men and women after them have done and that's how we evolve and that's how we prosper as a community is for everybody to stick together and stand firm on a cause that

you believe in like these gentlemen did.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Peekham. Uh, at this time, I'd also like to welcome forward city councilman Michael Canuel to offer us a few remarks.

Well, I think everyone said what needs to be said. Um, today I think I want to thank this crowd for being here um to remember because if you don't remember the past, we're doomed to repeat it. And I think what the ultimate sacrifice that was made is something that we always need to remember. We need to show up for because they're not here. But I I think I'm always humbled when I stand in the

presence or on the grounds where people are buried because this is something that they believe so truly and that they gave up their lives for.

And everybody who puts on a uniform in service does the same knowing that they may not return, but they stand up and put that uniform on because of what they believe in. And so, thank you all for being here today.

We will never forget the sacrifice that was made. Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Canuel.

As we gather here today at Oako Cemetery, we do not simp we do not do so simply to acknowledge history, but to remember the people behind it.

This year's ceremony carries even greater meaning as our nation's commemor commemorates 250 years since the founding of the United States of America.

For 250 years, Americans have answered the call to defend this nation and the ideals upon which it was founded. From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, generations of Americans have stepped forward during moments of uncertainty and sacrifice.

And here in Fall River, that leg that leg legacy runs deep. Long before Fall River became known for its mills and hardworking families, this community was already connected to the fight for American liberty during what became known as the Battle of Fall River.

That same spirit carried forward generations later during the Civil War.

Fall River sent nearly 1,800 men to fight for the Union, 163 of which never returned home. Their names remain forever inscribed in places around the city and in this very cemetery on monuments and gravestones.

These were workers, neighbors, fathers, brothers, and young men from this city who answered a call greater than themselves.

Memorial Day is about remembrance. It is about recognizing the cost of freedom and ensuring that those who gave it their lives in service to this nation are never forgotten.

Especially during this historic 250th year of our nation, communities like Fall River must continue to come together in remembrance, unity, and gratitude.

members of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 207 at this time are lowering and raising our flag and is being replaced.

At this time, the city's flags and graves officer, Victor Fious, will play taps.

At this time, I would like to welcome forward Father Rob Nykovich again for our benediction.

Please join me in prayer.

Lord God, whose care and guidance brought our ancestors to this great land and led them through faith, courage, and self-sacrifice to build the foundations of a great democratic nation dedicated to liberty and human rights. May we be faithful stewards of the heritage entrusted to us.

Reverently, on this day where we honor and remember those who fought and died in the Civil War for the rights of all, we pray that the souls of these our heroic dead may have found perfect rest and receive the crown of an unfading life. We humbly acknowledge our debt to them and ask for the strength to go on towards the ideals for which they fought and died. As they gave themselves to

advance the ideal of peace, justice, and equality of all, may they inspire our continued efforts towards this same end.

Unite the people of our nation to defend the freedom, justice, equality for which they lived, fought, and died. Lord, we also ask your blessings on those who have served in the armed forces of our nation and receive the souls of those heroic men and women who gave their lives in service of our country and for the liberty and human rights throughout the world. This we ask in your most holy name. Amen.

Amen.

Before we conclude today's ceremony, I would like to invite all those in attendance to join us in flagging a veterans graves who rest right here in Oakrove Cemetery. Each flag placed today as a reminder that these men and women are never forgotten. I would also like to recognize members of the American Legion, the Fall River Police Department, Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 207, uh, and any other group.

Uh, South Coast Nurses Honor Guard is here as well, uh, all volunteering with the kids from the Evolve program to flag graves here in Oakrove Cemetery. I want to thank you again to everyone who joined us here this morning. May we continue to honor the legacy of those who gave their lives and service to this nation and to teach future generations the importance of remembrance, sacrifice, and unity. May God bless our

veterans, our gold star families, and the city of Fall River and these United States. Thank you.