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Chester County Press

Oxford mayor plans remembrance walk for Memorial Day

05/23/2022 09:43PM ● By Steven Hoffman
Oxford Mayor Phil Harris informed Borough Council that the Oxford Memorial Day Committee recently met to plan the 2022 event. The committee is comprised of members of the American Legion, Oxford civic leaders, members of the Oxford Police Department, the Mayor of Oxford and a local veteran and Purple Heart Award recipient.  
Harris said, “After two years of virtual events, we are happy to have an in-person event this year on Monday, May 30.”
Harris explained the event will begin at 9:30 a.m. on May 30 at the Oxford Memorial Park. Groups can meet at the Oxford Memorial before walking silently up Pine Street and entering the Oxford Cemetery from the back entrance off of Pine Street.
“The walk is interactive and bystanders along the way are encouraged to join us as we continue to the Oxford Cemetery,” Harris explained.
As in the past, the American Legion will conduct the ceremony which will include speakers, veterans, and local high school students.
Harris told council, “We are also focused this year on educating the community about the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day. Memorial Day, as the name suggests, is a day to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.”
Harris also emphasized that there will be drivers available to assist those who want to participate but have difficulty walking.
Oxford Borough Council President Kathryn Cloyd, who is also a veteran, said Memorial Day means so much to her. Cloyd was a Specialist 4 in the Army stationed in Pirmasems, Germany.
“I was in the signal company in radio communications,” she explained. “I enlisted in 1978 when I was 19. I was in until 1982. My father was in the military too. I served in peace time and I am very grateful for those who served during a war. I joined the American Legion (Roy W. Gibson Post #535) to do something to help honor those who served in time of war. It’s very emotional for me at this time in my life.  My father-in-law was a soldier during World War II. My father was in the Air Force and spent his first four years in France. Memorial Day is a day to honor all those who have fallen.”
Mayor Harris and all of Borough Council are happy to have the Memorial Day event take place in person this year after the last two events were virtual. 
“We were happy to do the virtual Memorial Day due to COVID, but we think this year will have much more meaning for those who honor our veterans,” Harris said.
If you or your group is interested in joining the group and meeting at the Oxford Memorial in the park, please line up at 9:30 a.m. or feel free to join in along the way.