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.

Our Most Perfect President

For years I have told people our most perfect president was William Henry Harrison. Teasingly I tell them that he only made one mistake during his term in the White House .... he did not wear a hat to his inauguration. It was cold and he caught pneumonia and died about a month after taking office. This man, known as Tippecanoe, spoke for an hour and forty five minutes on the cold day, the longest inauguration speech on record, He was also the oldest president until Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.

William Henry Harrison built a home near North Bend, Ohio

After years of talking about the man, I decided to learn something about him. William Henry Harrison is buried in the county where my oldest daughter goes to school, Hamilton County, Ohio. Four of our presidents have ties to this area: William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati; Ulysses S. Grant was born one county east; William Henry Harrison is buried in North Bend; and his grandson, Benjamin Harrison, was born in Hamilton, County. Because I am interested in history, I have visited sites related to these men when I visit my daughter.

William Howard Taft was born in Cincinnati

My visit to the gravesite of William Henry Harrison occurred on a cold day in March of last year. We attempted to visit a museum near his home first, but the facility was closed. It seems the curator was on vacation in Europe (I know because I wrote to ask why the museum was closed during opened hours). We went on to the grave, which is close to where he built his home. It was an enjoyable day seeing the countryside and learning a bit about the man who served as our president for thirty-one days.

Tippecanoe built a home with a view!!

When I inquired about why the museum was closed, the people I talked to told me about a wreath hanging program instituted by Gerald Ford when he was president. Every year a president’s birthday, a representative of the current president hangs a wreath at the grave site. I decided to visit the tomb of Tippecanoe once again this year to participate in the ceremony. The event happens on February 9.