LINCOLN — The Lincoln Community School this past Thursday, May 30, continued its decades-long tradition of observing Memorial Day with a march to Maple Cemetery and remarks from the school principal and United Church of Lincoln minister.

Students this year heard from retired pastor David Wood as current minister Co’Relous Bryant was out of town. The LCS community was also joined by Lincoln resident Brian Frazier and his two sons, Ian and Mason — both of whom are LCS alums.

Frazier’s family has a long history of service in the U.S. military, and he is a member of several military and civil fraternal organizations, including the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the Major General James A. Garfield Camp 62, which is headquartered in Lincoln.

He provided the following comments to fellow Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War following the Memorial Day service, which LCS Principal Tory Riley shared with the Independent.

“The Garfield Camp had been invited by Tory Riley and the Lincoln Community School for their over-20-year going Decoration Day Memorial at the Maple Cemetery in Lincoln this morning,” Frazier wrote. “Incredible turnout of students, (faculty), parents and townspeople. A few of us spoke about the significance of the day giving the children a fresh outlook on today’s importance.”

Frazier noted that Wood gave attendees a lesson on the history of Memorial Day over the years, and Riley explained “the importance of this day and how we can all learn about the sacrifices that so many gave and how we can help to prevent those sacrifices in the future.”

“I was given the opportunity to explain to the students a very brief history of Decoration Day and its significance to the Civil War along with a description of my uniform, then gave a stirring prayer that was well received by all,” Frazier continued. “Brothers Ian and Mason handed out pamphlets that I put together for the service, that will be distributed to the students on their return to the school. We performed a flag ceremony lowering the flag to half-mast, and several of the students played TAPS in the background as we all maintained several minutes of silence.”

“This is what our organization is all about, carrying on the traditions of the (Grand Army of the Republic) and interacting with our communities, sharing the history and pride in our country. A wonderful morning that I was both honored and moved by the interest of our future generations,” Frazier wrote.