“This Memorial Day weekend occasion will give others the opportunity to honor, mourn and recognize those who have lost their lives in military service, due to the COVID pandemic and the recent war in Ukraine. The concert will feature Barber’s Adagio, followed by fitting honors for an army funeral, with John Rutter’s Requiem as the centerpiece of this occasion,” reads the description of the occasion. “Concertgoers will also enjoy ‘The Lord’s Mansions’ featured in the film ‘We Were Soldiers’ as well as other choral works. “
The concert was also streamed live on the church’s YouTube channel, where additional commentary was made in honor of Ukrainian and COVID-19 victims.
Service members place flags on headstones on Remembrance Day, May 25, 2023, in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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“During this special today, so do we who died from COVID and the effects it had on all of us. And today we pray and recognize the other Ukrainian people who fight for their freedom all the lives that have been lost in this madness. “war,” said the Rev. Matthew Sergeant, after seeing the fallen troops.
Choir director Bob Legett also explained at the start of the concert that the resolution to honor COVID-19 patients came after his coronavirus requiem last year had to be canceled.
Army member beating flags on the graves of the dead on Remembrance Day, May 25, 2023, in Arlington, Virginia. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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“I’m going to do the requiem last year committed to COVID victims, but I stuck COVID, so it didn’t work. So we moved it to this year and the only open time on the Memorial Day church calendar and that’s my chance. This has been close to my center for a long, long time,” Leggett said.
Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church did not respond to a request for comment.
Children play in a flag box on Memorial Day, in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 26, 2023. (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP Getty Images)
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Memorial Day has been observed in the United States for more than 150 years after its initial commemoration in 1868 as Declaration Day. The day became a floating party in 1971 when it moved from May 30 to the last Monday in May.
Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor at Fox News Digital. La story can be sent to lindsay. kornick@fox. com and on Twitter: @lmkornick.