Flower ceremony traces to ancient Greece

By Pam Baytos

OSU Ext. master gardener volunteer

I had the privilege of volunteering, along with my Vietnam vet husband Stan at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Traveling Wall during its stop in Trumbull County. This was a moving experience from the moment we assembled the wall, the opening ceremony to the closing ceremony’s laying of roses, to finally taking down the wall and packing it into the semi for its next stop. I can see why it’s called The Wall That Heals. This was something we will never forget.

The laying of roses ceremony at the traveling wall consisted of each fallen soldier’s name being called along with a bell being rung, and the family members of the soldier – or someone else in their honor (often a veteran) – carrying a rose to the wall and placing it under the panel with the soldier’s name. After all the roses were placed, there was a 21-gun salute and the playing of taps.

The custom of flowers being placed on graves can be traced to ancient Greeks. It was believed that if the flowers took root and blossomed on the graves, the souls of the warriors were sending a message that they had found happiness in the next world.

According to historian Jay Winik, the tradition began in America at the end of the Civil War. Mourners at Lincoln’s funeral train brought bouquets of flowers to express their grief. After Lincoln’s burial, people began decorating graves of Civil War soldiers. In 1868, Gen. John Alexander issued an order designating May 30 as a day for “strewing the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country.” Originally called Decoration Day, we now know it as Memorial Day.

The gift of flowers at a memorial is a ritual that occurs around the world, understood in every culture. Many types of floral ceremonies are used as a tribute to our fallen soldiers. At the laying of roses, a red rose represents love, respect or courage. Wreaths on graves represent a circle of eternal life. Our Mahoning County master gardener volunteers and local 4-H Clubs host Wreath For Veterans programs in Mahoning County for which wreaths are laid in December at various cemeteries in the county. Many bouquets use different flowers, each with a meaning – for example, carnation means “my heart aches for you,” peonies, “healing;” hydrangeas, “perseverance;” and red poppies, “blood of fallen soldier.”

Whatever type of floral tribute you choose, it’s a way to honor the sacrifice made by men and women who gave their lives serving our country and protecting the American people. It’s heartwarming to see vets connect with one another, along with family and friends, to remember those who gave their lives for us. As we get closer to Veteran’s Day, on Sunday, Nov. 11, consider honoring a veteran by laying flowers.