CRISFIELD — With the threat of rain the American Legion Stanley Cochrane Post 16 held an abbreviated Memorial Day ceremony at the American Legion section of the Crisfield Cemetery.

Members of the Crisfield High School band under the direction of Heather McHenry opened with the playing of the National Anthem, and concluded with Echo Taps by trumpet players, sophomore Bella McHenry and junior Dillon Mister, as the first raindrops fell as the final notes faded.

Prayer for the occasion was by Chaplain Don Lawson, who asked for God to be with those who have gone on, their families, and for the young folks “who need to come and celebrate this day, because they don’t understand shedding the blood for this great country.”

There were also remarks by Commander Donald Waters, who along with Past Commander Gene Troxell placed the memorial wreath at the Spirit of the American Doughboy statue and stood for a salute.

There are some 1800 names of deceased veterans and those killed in action from primarily this section of the county listed from the Civil War to today and published each year in a special Memorial Day section inside the Crisfield-Somerset County Times.

Next year 29 new names will be added, and Adjutant Terry Pehan read the names of those who have fallen since last year’s program, as a bell sounded for each one.

“This Memorial Day, I, like all of you, will spend some time remembering and honoring our fallen vets. Our parents, our uncles and our aunts, brothers and our sisters. All those who have served and are now in the hallowed ground around us," Mr. Pehan said.

“We all have heroes. For those who served, some of our heroes are now gone. This Memorial Day, I hope that all Americans take just a few minutes to reflect on the sacrifice of so many, who have served our nation.

“Memorial Day is also a time to honor our serving men and women, that their lives will always be remembered.”

The crowd hurriedly dispersed as the rain fell as the band was unable to play its other selections. Lunch for them and guests followed at the post.

At noon those in the Asbury and Lawsonia section of Crisfield were privileged to hear patriotic music from the century-old bell chimes from Asbury United Methodist Church as played by Randy Laird IV.