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description of the service. The Thomas J. Cunningham Division presented a memorial service before about 150 members at the biennial National Convention of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America held at the Omni Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland from July 2 through July 5, 2000. The service honored the memory of John Cardinal O’Connor of New York, Monsignor Thomas G. Wells of Maryland, and John S. A'Hearn, Immediate Past State President of the AOH in Virginia. The picture shows the layout of the ceremony. The participants were led into the area by bagpiper George Rogers (right), State Secretary of the AOH in the District of Columbia, playing a medley of Irish tunes. The ceremony is an evolution of the "Fallen Comrade" ceremony of the military modified for civilian use. It was written and delivered by Steven Hanley (left), President of the Cunningham Division. Hanley was assisted by William R. Halpin (center), Vice President of the Cunningham Division, and Edwin L. Woisard, Founder of the Cunningham Division. Pictured on the table, are the Irish, Papal, and American flags, a saber, the sash of the Order, a candle, an overturned plate, and on the plate, two slices of lemon and a pile of salt. Each of these symbolizes a facet of the life of those being remembered. Beside the table (to the right of the piper) is the Founding Charter of the Cunningham Division. The ceremony was as follows. When the piping concluded Hanley, accompanied by the song "The Parting Glass" (written by Shaun Davey for the movie "Waking Ned Devine,") explained the significance of each symbol ending with the candle representing life, which can be stuffed out in a moment. At that point, the candle was blown out and the charter draped in black. Following this, a tot of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey was distributed to each attendee. As the music rose to a crescendo, all present toasted the memory of those remembered. It was a moving event. |
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