Beaufort’s Memorial Day parade returns but with changes at Beaufort National Cemetery

After a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic, Beaufort’s Memorial Day Parade returns to the city with rich military culture.

The parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday at Rodgers and Boundary streets and concludes at that same intersection about an hour and a half later.

Elijah Washington, chairman of the Memorial Day Committee, said, “Everybody needs to come out and honor (those who served). It’s going to be great.”

The parade’s return also includes a ceremony at Beaufort National Cemetery with a few changes.

Normally held on the grounds in the historic district, the ceremony will be held in the newer, back area of the cemetery.

When asked if the ceremony crowd size will be limited, assistant director Jeff Applegate said they’ll be able to handle capacities they’ve had in the past.

“In fact, it (the area) may even have more room,” he said.

The multimillion-dollar shrine project, awarded on April 21, 2021, is nearing completion with remaining irrigation and turf work still underway.

Workers are also bringing in new top soil and replanting with zoysia sod in shady areas where centipede turf wasn’t surviving.

Applegate said the cemetery has tried a few test areas with the new grass type, and “the sod seems to be holding up.”

The project included cleaning the iron staining, caused by the aquifer water used to irrigate the sod, from the marble headstones.

A new, deeper aquifer with less iron in the water should remedy the staining that left some the headstones “almost stained a Clemson orange,” Applegate said.

Those who want to volunteer to help place American flags on the graves for the national holiday should arrive at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Hilton Head

The Savannah Hilton Head Navy League Council will host a Memorial Day observance on Hilton Head Island at the town’s Veterans’ Memorial Park on Shelter Cove Lane starting at 9:30 a.m. Monday.

The Hilton Head Island Choral Society led by Tim Reynolds, the Hilton Head Island High School NJROTC, and Billy Howe of Hilton Head’s The Headliners will participate.

_{Editor’s note: This story was updated to correct the spelling of a road at the intersection where the parade starts and ends.}

This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 2:47 PM.