After the United States Civil War towns started to set aside a day to remember members of the military who died. Once called Decoration Day it is now known as Memorial Day. Today towns and cities across the nation celebrate the day with parades, ceremonies, and decorating of graves.

The Carousel of Happiness in Nederland held its annual Memorial Day Ceremony to honor veterans on May 29. The event started with the song “Danny Boy” being played. A song of loss and love.

When the carousel opened on Memorial Day weekend 2010 it was dedicated to two Marines who had fought and died during the Vietnam War, Christian Langenfeld and Paul Christmas. Founder and carver of The Carousel of Happiness Scott Harrison was a friend and fellow Marine in Vietnam with Langenfeld and Christmas.

Tom Langkau came to represent the Oshkosh High School Class of 1967 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He came to unveil a plaque to remember their classmate Chris Langenfeld, as well as Paul Christmas, both of whom died on January 27, 1968.

A microphone was passed around and anyone could share the names of those whose lives have been lost, be it in the military or not. A red rose was then handed to the speaker. It was touching to hear someone speak about a father, son or a daughter. Friends and people they served with were on several hearts and minds. Many conflicts were mentioned from World War I to the war in Vietnam to Desert Storm to the present.

A lone trumpet player played “Taps.”

The carousel was rideless and with no music playing to symbolize the loss of loved ones and those admired.

Harrison then spoke to the crowd paraphrasing a common saying that people never truly die until their name is no longer spoken. Those gone are still with us in our hearts and minds. Remembering his friend Paul Christmas, who was a silly guy and always wanted people to smile and laugh, Harrison invited the veterans to ride the carousel and smile.

Memorial Day at The Carousel of Happiness in Nederland is a time of reflection, some tears, and a time to say the names of those we have lost. The carousel is a place of joy. Along with the sorrow that a day like Memorial Day brings, find the joy amongst the raccoon, the fox, the moose, the fish, the gorilla, the dragon, the dog, and the music as you spin around and smile.

The Carousel of Happiness is located at 20 E. Lakeview Drive, Nederland. You can call them at (303) 258-3457. Find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CarouselofHappiness or check out their website at https:// carouselofhappiness.org/