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Illumination ceremony set for May 30 evening

An Illumination Ceremony honoring some of the county's Civil War veterans will be held on Friday, May 30, beginning at 8:40 p.m. at General Slack Park, 929 Guilford St., Huntington.

The event takes place on the former Memorial Day date, previously known as "Decoration Day."

"We light 217 candles in honor of the number of men from Huntington County who died during the Civil War who were in the Union Army," says Gib Young, one of the participants in the solemn observance.

Two grave stones of Civil War soldiers will also be placed in the ground at the park next to the memorial prior to the ceremony. However, there are no actual graves in the park.

"They're representing the sacrifice, the deaths of all the soldiers from Huntington County," Young says.

Besides lighting the candles, activities include sprinkling of flower petals, laying memorial wreaths, posting the flags, playing "Taps" and a salute fired by rifle squads as well as firing a cannon.

The Erie Band will also play period and patriotic music.
The ceremony is sponsored by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Champion Hill, Camp 17.

The public is invited to attend the ceremony.