Confederate Memorial Day Service, Columbia, South Carolina 2026

 

On Saturday, May 2nd of this year, the South Carolina Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCSCV) along with the South Carolina Divisions of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (SCUDC), the Military Order of the Stars & Bars (MOSB), the Children of the Confederacy, and the Order of the Confederate Rose (OCR) -- along with living history re-enactors of the Palmetto Battalion gathered at historic Elmwood Cemetery in downtown Columbia, South Carolina to honor the Confederate Memorial Day State Holiday (May 10th officially in South Carolina).

This annual gathering of Confederate descendants and Southern heritage organizations at the mass burial site of men and boys who fell in service to the State of South Carolina and the Confederacy during the War Between The States, is an event which your humble blogger has attended for the better part of 25 years now -- both as a member of the SCV and, more importantly, as the proud descendant of a fallen Confederate soldier.

The following are the photos I took of this year's memorial service for y'all to enjoy.

The service begins with the posting of the colors by the 16th South Carolina Color Guard of Honor, followed by the pledges to the flags, opening prayers, and the introductions and greetings by the commanders of the host organizations.

During the hour-long service an honor guard consisting of members of the 16th South Carolina Color Guard of Honor and the Palmetto Battalion living history reenactors walks a sentry post among the graves of the honored Southern dead buried in Section E of historic Elmwood Cemetery.

The keynote speaker, UDC President General Julie Hardaway,
speaks of why we honor the Confederate dead and what they
mean for us, the living today.

The placement of the memorial wreath at the grave of the Unknown Confederate Soldier by the leaders of the host organizations, followed by the rifle and cannon salutes for the honored Southern dead.

The memorial service concludes with the playing of Dixie by local musical talent Bluegrass Remedy followed by the retirement of the colors and the closing benediction and prayer.

My final two photos of this year's Confederate Memorial Day event, and by far the most important ones. This is why about 150 people braved the rain and why I drove over 50 miles in it and stood in a wet gray wool uniform.

The Confederate soldiers graves at Section E of historic
Elmwood Cemetery with the flags of South Carolina and the
National Flags of the C.S.A. overhead.

The humble wreath of Magnolia leaves placed at the grave of the
Unknown Confederate Soldier.

In the end honoring Confederate Memorial Day is about showing respect to these men and boys in these graves here and those in hundreds of other cemeteries across the State of South Carolina and thousands more across the rest of the American Southland and our family connection to them. Its about our Southern identity and our shared Confederate historical heritage.