Here are a few photos from the June 3, 2006 Confederate Memorial Day Service in the Chattanooga Confederate Cemetery. In Tennessee, this day is also known as "Confederate Decoration Day." N. B. Forrest, Camp #3, Sons of Confederate Veterans sponsors this annual event which is open to the public.

This year's guest speaker was Michael Bradley, Ph. D. A recently retired History professor from Motlow State College, he lives in Tullahoma. Among his many accomplishments, he is a published author and is a widely recognized authority on Nathan Bedford Forrest. He is the newly elected SCV Tennessee Division Commander.

Dr. Bradley's remarks centered on the typical life and background of the "Johnny Reb" soldier buried in this cemetery.

The service included the reading of the names of 15 soldiers of the 19th Tennessee Regiment who are known to be interred in this cemetery. Members of the 37th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (re-enactors) are shown below delivering one of three volleys fired in their honor.

The camera angle in the photo above makes that volley look rather ominous for the bugler, but he was never in harms way. He performed several stirring renditions of bugle tunes once heard daily by those buried here. Overall, the service was a solemn and thoughtful occasion to honor the Confederate dead.

A crowd of about 30 attended this year's 40-minute service. Represented at the service were: members of the N. B. Forrest Camp #3, Sons of Confederate Veterans, members of the A. P. Stewart Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, members of the Chattanooga Civil War Round Table, members of the Hamilton County Genealogical Society, members of the 19th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry Regiment (re-enactors), and members of the 37th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment (re-enactors).