Yesterday my family and I attended a wreath laying ceremony at the grave of William Henry Harrison, the ninth President of the United States. I tell about how we came to participate at this event in my last two blogs. I did not know until this event that wreaths are set at the grave of each president annually on (or near) his birthday. I thought this ceremony would be small, but I was wrong. These wreath settings are well planned, well attended because they are quite elaborate. A video can be seen at this link.

A color guard led the procession from North Bend Town Hall to the grave site of President William Henry Harrison

The ceremony for William Henry Harrison began at North Bend City Hall.

Sons and Daughters of the Revolution joined the procession behind the flags.

There were costumed participants from Sons and Daughters of the Revolution. William Henry Harrison was the last President born the colonial period of our country. He was also the last president to personally know every man who served as President before him.

The procession as it reaches the hill where our former president was buried.

We walked three blocks to the grave site. A color guard led the parade, followed by costumed personnel, military commanders, guests and then the High School band.

A view looking east from the grave site

We gathered at the beautiful spot above the Ohio River.

A view looking west from the grave site. The North Bend Mayor is speaking

The mayor of North Bend spoke first and MC’d the program.

An Army General brought the wreath and spoke about President Harrison's accomplishments

President Trump sent a representative, a general in the army, to lay the wreath.

The twenty-one musket salute

There were flag ceremonies and presentations, other wreaths set in place, and a 21 gun salute.

The High School Band

The local high school band played for the event.

Inside President Harrison's tomb

The entire event was very impressive. This is my first time attending such an event. I will probably look up some other events and celebrate our nation’s great history.

The President's One Big Mistake

In the past year I have learned a lot about William Henry Harrison. For years I told people he was our most perfect president, “he only made one mistake while in office, he went to his own inauguration.” The fact is that Thursday, March 4, 1841 was a very cold day. Sixty-eight year old “Tippecanoe” did not wear a hat, overcoat, or gloves, and stood outside to deliver the longest inauguration speech on record. As a result he caught pneumonia and died thirty-one days into his term of office.

William Henry Harrison Inauguration 

Quite by accident this year, my family has traveled in the areas where William Henry Harrison lived. He was born at Berkeley Plantation between Williamsburg and Richmond, Virginia in 1773. He was the son of Benjamin Harrison V, a Burgess who signed the Declaration of Independence and participated in the ratification of the Constitution. The Harrison family was well acquainted with national leaders of his day, and William Henry Harrison personally knew every man who served as President of the United States before him. He was the ninth President of the United States.

Berkeley Plantation in Virginia

William Henry Harrison served a distinguished career in the military, served as the first governor of Indiana Territory, defeated Tecumseh at the battle of Tippecanoe, served in the United States House of Representatives. the United States Senate and as foreign minister to Columbia where he worked to point president Simón Bolívar, toward formation of a democracy. We visited Grouseland, Harrison’s home in Vincennes, Indiana this year in our travels, which holds many mementos of this remarkable man.

Grouceland Plantation in Indiana

Today is William Henry Harrison’s Birthday. If he were alive it would be number 245. I will be attending a wreath hanging ceremony in North Bend, Ohio. Tomorrow I hope to post some pictures from the event.