Every May, American Legion Post 51 turns out at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Lebanon, Oregon to do something most towns this size don’t manage anymore: place a flag or a cross by hand on every veteran’s grave.
If you’re trying to understand what Memorial Day actually observes, how it’s different from Veterans Day, or how Lebanon specifically marks the day, here’s the complete picture — including why the holiday’s meaning gets lost so easily, and what it looks like when a small town does it right.
Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day: The Difference That Actually Matters
These two holidays get confused constantly, and the mix-up isn’t trivial — they honor different people, for different reasons, on different dates.
| Memorial Day | Veterans Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it honors | Service members who died while serving | All veterans, living and deceased |
| When | Last Monday in May | November 11, every year |
| Origin | Post-Civil War “Decoration Day,” decorating soldiers’ graves | WWI Armistice Day, renamed in 1954 |
| How it’s marked | Cemetery ceremonies, flags on graves, moments of silence | Parades, thank-you events for living veterans |
| What to say | “In memory of” the fallen | “Thank you for your service” to living veterans |
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the clearest way to remember the difference is this: Memorial Day is for those who died wearing the uniform; Veterans Day is for everyone who wore it. Post 51 observes both, but the two ceremonies look very different — Memorial Day is quiet and solemn, centered on the cemetery, not the Post hall.
How Post 51 Observes Memorial Day in Lebanon, Oregon
Post 51’s Memorial Day tradition centers on I.O.O.F. Cemetery, north of town off Highway 20. It’s one of the more hands-on observances in the area — not a single ceremony, but a full day of preparation and remembrance.
What Happens at the Cemetery
- Volunteers place small American flags and white crosses at veterans’ graves throughout the cemetery — a task that, by local reporting, has run into the hundreds to over a thousand markers in past years.
- Wreaths are placed at the cemetery’s memorial walls honoring those without a marked grave nearby.
- A formal Memorial Day program is held at the cemetery, drawing Post 51 members, families, and the broader Lebanon community.
A Community Effort, Not Just a Post Event
What makes Lebanon’s observance distinctive is who shows up to help. Preparation has historically involved more than just Post 51 members — local students have pitched in placing flags and crosses, turning cemetery prep into a genuine intergenerational project rather than something the Post handles alone.
That’s consistent with how Post 51 approaches most of its community work: the bingo nights that fund local charities, the Honor Guard’s presence at services, and Memorial Day all draw on the same idea — remembrance and community service aren’t separate missions for the Post, they’re the same one.
A Brief History of Memorial Day
Memorial Day wasn’t always a fixed federal holiday. It began as “Decoration Day” in the years following the Civil War, when communities across the country started the practice of decorating soldiers’ graves with flowers as a spring ritual of remembrance.
The observance eventually broadened to honor fallen service members from every American conflict, not just the Civil War, and Congress fixed it to the last Monday in May in 1971. The tradition Post 51 carries out at I.O.O.F. Cemetery — physically placing something at each grave — is a direct continuation of that original Decoration Day practice, more than 150 years later.
Why This Kind of Observance Is Getting Harder to Find
Hand-placing a marker at every veteran’s grave in a cemetery is labor-intensive, and it’s the kind of tradition that depends entirely on volunteers showing up year after year. As American Legion and VFW membership nationally has declined with the passing of the WWII and Korean War generations, fewer posts have the manpower to keep observances like this running at full scale.
Lebanon’s is still going. That’s worth noting on its own — it means the tradition depends on new volunteers, not just longtime members, to keep it going the same way it has for years.
It’s also part of why Post 51 leans on the wider community rather than treating Memorial Day as a members-only event. Students, families, and residents who’ve never worn a uniform themselves can still take part directly in the physical act of remembrance, which keeps the tradition from resting on a shrinking group of aging volunteers.
How to Participate in Lebanon
- Attend the cemetery program. Post 51’s Memorial Day observance at I.O.O.F. Cemetery is open to the public — no membership or invitation required.
- Volunteer to help place flags and crosses. Contact Post 51 at (541) 451-1351 ahead of time if you or your family want to take part in the preparation.
- Visit a veteran’s grave yourself. Even outside the organized program, placing a flag at any veteran’s grave is a welcomed, simple way to observe the day.
- Skip “Happy Memorial Day.” It’s a small thing, but the holiday’s own tone calls for “in memory of” rather than a cheerful greeting — save the celebration for Veterans Day.
Beyond Memorial Day: Year-Round Remembrance at Post 51
Memorial Day is Post 51’s biggest single remembrance event, but it isn’t the only one. The Post also maintains a POW/MIA Empty Table display honoring those still missing, and its Honor Guard provides military funeral honors for veterans throughout the year — not just in May. Its Auxiliary carries remembrance forward each spring too, through Poppy Day.
If you’re new to the area and want to understand how deep this tradition runs, Post 51’s own founding story dates back to 1926, and remembrance has been part of its mission since the beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
Memorial Day honors service members who died while serving. Veterans Day honors all veterans, living and deceased. Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in May; Veterans Day is fixed to November 11.
Where does Post 51 hold its Memorial Day observance?
At I.O.O.F. Cemetery, north of Lebanon off Highway 20, where flags and crosses are placed at veterans’ graves and a formal program is held.
Is the Memorial Day ceremony open to the public?
Yes. No Legion membership is required to attend Post 51’s Memorial Day observance.
Can I volunteer to help place flags?
Yes — contact Post 51 at (541) 451-1351 ahead of the holiday if you’d like to help with preparation.
Should I say “Happy Memorial Day”?
It’s generally considered more appropriate to frame the day around remembrance — “in memory of” rather than a celebratory greeting — since it specifically honors the fallen.
Honor the Day With Post 51
Whether you’re a longtime Lebanon resident or new to the area, I.O.O.F. Cemetery on Memorial Day is one of the clearest windows into what Post 51 actually does year-round. If the observance moves you to get more involved, see our guide on how to join the American Legion in Lebanon, Oregon, or just reach out at (541) 451-1351 to ask about volunteering.