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The 157th annual Memorial Day Parade marched from Zion Baptist Church in Vidalia to the Natchez National Cemetery on Monday morning.

The parade is widely attended, drawing a diverse crowd of around 1,500 from the Miss-Lou area and beyond.

Watch the video of the 2023 Miss-Lou Memorial Day Parade as it makes its way across the Mississippi River bridge Monday morning.

Below, watch as the marchers make their way into the Natchez National Cemetery, followed by a Memorial Day service.

Natchez High School Jr. ROTC cadets presented the colors for Monday’s service, followed by a pledge from veteran Doug McCallister, a welcome by cemetery assistant director Ryan Hannon and remarks by special guest speaker and retired army veteran Jeff McClure and Lauran Ann Jackson.

“Today is the most expensive holiday on the calendar,” McClure said, reading a quote from a source he did not know. “Every hot dog, every hamburger, every spin around the lake or drink with friends and family is a debt purchased by others. This is not about all who served. That day comes in the fall. This day is in honor of those who paid in life and blood, whose moms never saw them again, whose dads wept in pride, whose kids were raised by their mother, and who remember their father — or their mother — only from pictures. This isn’t simply a day off. This is a day to remember that others paid for every free breath you ever get to take. We need to keep that in mind.”

Elder Noah Riley and Mayor Dan Gibson performed music solos as the American flag was raised over the cemetery.  The service concluded with taps performed by Master Sgt. Washington.

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