The video link is above.
If you can make it to Carterville on Memorial Day, it’s worth the drive to Cannon Park to see the beautiful American flags on display.
It is very sobering to walk through the flag-lined path and read the names of past and present persons in the military. It is a visual that drives home the cost of our freedom. Various battles and wars in American history are represented.
HerrinFesta Italiana has been a Memorial Day Weekend tradition in Southern Illinois since it started 1991. The event celebrates Herrin’s Italian heritage. Festa, an alias of the festival, became one of millions of events cancelled in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Southern Illinois’ festival that signals the unofficial beginning of summer has finally returned to Herrin.
A carnival, food, and shopping opportunities make up the Midway. As indicated on the festival’s website, ride armbands are $25 per day unless purchased prior to midnight on May 26 for $20 each with a $2.99 service charge per order through https://www.herrinfesta.com/
Over the years, many local and famous acts have graced the HerrinFesta stage in the Piaza. Some of these include Survivor, Firehouse, 38 Special, Drew Baldridge, and Three Doors Down. 2015 became known as “The Year That Riding the Storm Out Was So Not An Option” due to a heavy downpour and lightning storm interrupting the REO Speedwagon concert. The 2018 line up included The Beach Boys, Slaughter, Queensryche, and Faith & Family Night at the Festa with Natalie Grant and Jordan Feliz.
This year, with some COVID-19 restrictions still in place and the aftermath of over a year of sheltering in place and quarantining, no national bands have yet been announced. However, Festa goers will be treated to free local music in the Beverage Garden Tent beginning at 6:30 pm on Friday through Sunday night. Taylor Made will play on Friday evening. Saturday night features Most Wanted. Dave Clark will take the stage on Sunday night.
Some of the special events that people look forward to each year include the parade, bocce ball, pasta eating contests, and the Road Races. The second annual Jeep Poker Run takes place on May 31. May 28 will be the HerrinFesta Italiana Golf Tournament. The pageants, baby contests, and a prayer breakfasts are other popular events. This year’s events so includes the Hartley Fine Art Exhibit at 100 South Park Avenue.
On May 27, Herrin Festa Italiana Goes to the Movies… An Italian film, Va’Sentiero (Follow the Trail) subtitled in English, will be shown at the Herrin City Library from 6-7pm. The film’s Director, Andrea Buonopane, granted permission for its public viewing.
The 2021 Talent Contest, hosted by Herrin Woman’s Club and Karen Sala, President, kicked off the week of HerrinFesta Italiana events. The winners were named as follows:
James Windings, Herrin;
Travis Westbrook, Carterville
Karen Sala, director
Brax Melvin, West Frankfort
Rebekah Crouse, Herrin
Tara Kay Tanner, Johnston City. Knox Robbins, Mulkeytown
Kyler Followell, Benton
This Year’s (and Last Year’s) HerrinFesta Parade Grand Marshalls are Tom DeChristina and Marilyn Matthews Ruppel. Both are known for their long-term involvement within the Herrin community and support if its people and events. The couple of 26 years will lead the Grand Festa Parade on Saturday, May 29, at 11 am.
HerrinFesta Lifetime Achievement 2020 – 2021 was awarded to Herrin native Richard “Itch” Jones. As a member of eight different sports Hall of Fames, he has recognized that his grade school through high school education provided him with a quality foundation. Mr. Jones is listed among the 20 winningest coaches in NCAA Baseball Division 1. He earned his master’s degree in physical education at SIU-Carbondale, where he played baseball and basketball, in 1965. Mr. Jones also played for the Baltimore Oreos minor-league system.
More information is available at http://www.herrinfesta.com
This video is from 2016. Unfortunately, the Carterville Lioness Club had to cancel this year’s Military Salute due to COVID-19. Hopefully, it will return next year. Walking through those beautiful flags, each in honor or memory of someone who has served, is a sobering experience…
One day plus two restaurants plus three counties and six cemeteries equal my family’s annual “cemetery run.” That’s the day on Memorial Day Weekend that we meet somewhere and travel as many of the cemeteries where are loved ones are buried as we can fit in to place flowers on gravestones. Actually, there are more than six cemeteries, but some were done on a different day as the geography makes it extremely difficult to accomplish in one day.
This has been a tradition within my family for as long as I can remember. I’m pretty sure my parents did this before I was born, and I’ve included my children in the tradition. Personally, I believe it is one way to reach respect for those who have come before us.
It is sad to see the disrepair of some cemeteries, especially older ones, as not all receive any funding, and some rely on donations. Repair and upkeep might be a good project for groups looking for service projects as it preserves a part of our country’s history.
Below are some photos from Marion and Wayne county cemeteries. They are not necessarily any of relatives, but I liked the pictures.
Note: This post was updated with information received from our Consulting Historian, Carl Sullens, on 5/26/21 regarding the origin of Memorial Day. Additionally, corrections have been made regarding the date which HerrinFesta Italiana began. Info on celebrations in 2021 was added.
Southern Illinoisans have a rich history of family-based Memorial Day Traditions. Swimming pools open, and annual festivals bring people together to kick off the unofficial beginning of summer.
Some families gather for reunions and picnics.
Others get together to honor the memory of loved ones by placing flowers on graves. Communities gather to remember and honor those who have served our country.
Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971. Its origins were in Decoration Day, which came from a need to deal with grief during the Civil War. It appears that many locations claim to be the founder of that holiday.
However, on May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan (yes, the very one for whom the community College in Carterville is named) issued General Order No. 11 stating, “ The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet church-yard in the land.” You can link to the General John A. Logan Museum website for a full copy of the order and a download of it here: https://loganmuseum.org/general-order/
With so many people now researching their heritage through DNA testing, it seems likely that even more will be at cemeteries this year to remember and learn about their ancestors. A good website for locating graves is: https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/105510/memorial-search?firstname=&middlename=&lastname=&cemeteryName=East+Lawn+Cemetery&birthyear=&birthyearfilter=&deathyear=&deathyearfilter=&memorialid=&mcid=&linkedToName=&datefilter=&orderby=r
For many years, East Lawn Cemetery in Salem (Marion County) would accommodate many visitors-both decendants of the Joles and Broadway families buried in East Lawn Cemetery and people driving by to watch them. In 1891, “Gypsy Sam” and Betsy Joles reportedly traveled through Salem during a journey from Ohio to Southern Missouri. While camping in Salem, they could view East Lawn Cemetery and thought it was beautiful. When their daughter died in Missouri, they returned to Salem for her burial. Unfortunately, another daughter passed away while they were in Salem and was also buried in East Lawn. These are the first two known graves that started the annual Memorial Day Weekend gypsy pilgrimages to Salem. For many years, the Broadway and Joles Family graves were adorned with beautiful, elaborate floral arrangements. Some of these depicted the loved ones hobbies or favorite foods. I can remember watching the procession of cars and all of the colorful decorations as a child. It really was a nice way that their family remembered their loved ones. Sadly, in recent years, there has not been as much decoration as in past decades.
Many communities will have ceremonies honoring those who have served our country. There is a Memorial Day Service planned at Mound City National Cemetery on May 29 at which “General Ulysses S. Grant” will speak. More info may be obtained on the cemetery’s Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/138794972515/posts/10161171853107516/
The Carterville Lioness Club will once again have a beautiful display of flags at Cannon Park for their Military Salute. If you are able to walk the path, you are encouraged to do so. It is gorgeous. Homeschoolers, those who enjoy history, and those who just like pretty things can all learn much from it. This is the link to the event’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Carterville-Lioness-ClubMilitary-Salute-203618033011098/
Herrinfesta Italiana, an annual celebration of Herrin’s Italian heritage since 1991 is already in full swing. It was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, but 2021 brings it back for its 30th Annual Celebration. This is a link to the event’s website: https://www.herrinfesta.com/
Carbondale will hold a modified Memorial Day Ceremony at historic Woodlawn Cemetery on May 31. There is also a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 pm to be observed throughout the nation. Additional info may be found here: https://explorecarbondale.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1799
Links to information on some of the Memorial Day events in Southern Illinois will be available in the “Events” section of this website as well as the ASOSI app. The app is available for free download in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
