The Lads and Lassies will be strewing the rose petals in the path of Corporal John Byrne’s coffin at the Memphis City Cemetery just as in the second verse of "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again".
The old church bells will peal with joy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
To welcome home our darling boy,
Hurrah! Hurrah!
The village lads and lassies say
With roses they will strew the way,
And we'll all feel gay
When Johnny comes marching home.
We all are glad that John Peyton Byrne is being brought home which allows us to honor not just him but all of our Civil War Veterans.
85 red roses will be available for purchase by ladies in mourning attire during visitation at the Payne Funeral Chapel.  Each rose will be designated as to a specific year that has passed since John’s death.  They will be allowed to save one petal to press in their Bible and lay the rose in baskets next to the coffin.  These will be the roses used by the lads and lassies who will strew the petals in John’s coffin path at the cemetery.
The Lads and Lassies selected to do this service are boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 12.  They have grown up with their parents and grandparents taking them to memorial services and reenactments of our Civil War history.  Most have spent many weekends of their young lives, living and playing in period clothing as their ancestors did.  They have sponged up so many facts on the Civil War that they tend to correct their teachers and at young ages, are encouraged to get up in front of their classes and talk about it.  This is the makings of patriotic historians.  They tend to set a good example to other children with their manners and politeness, so don’t be alarmed if they answer you with mam or sir along with a curtsy or a bow.
If you arrive at the cemetery early, you will see them grouped together having a sack lunch, separating the rose petals for the hand baskets or playing period games until it is time for the darlings to come to attention for their duties to John.  They well understand what they are doing there and what is expected of them and will one day tell their children and grandchildren about it---that’s what historians do.  Mrs. Leo Fikes is their instructor and guardian, and has been working with them on their duties.
Our Lads and Lassies are:
Master Jacob Allison—GGG Grandson of Pvt. John Richard Allison, 21st IL. Inf.
Miss Dana Bunn--GGGG Granddaughter of Pvt. Charles Reed, 10th IA. Inf.
Master Thomas Bunn--GGGG Grandson of Pvt. William Whitehead, 40th IA. Inf.
Miss Kristen Cullum--GGGG Granddaughter of Pvt. John C. Gray, 18th MO. Inf.
Master Trevor Cullum---GGGG Grandson of Pvt. Henry T. Gorrell, 27th MO. Inf.
Miss Marie DeMarce—GGG Granddaughter of Pvt. John Calvin Hart 11th 8th MO. Cav.
Miss Renée DeMarce—GGG Granddaughter of Pvt. Joseph Regnold, 103rd IL. Inf.
Master William DeMarce—GGGG Grandson of Pvt. Jacob See Ware, 13th IA. Inf.
Miss Emily Dover—GGG Granddaughter of Sgt. Pleasant Jarman, 18th MO. Inf.
Miss Samatha Dover-- GGG Granddaughter of Sgt. Pleasant Jarman, 18th MO. Inf.
Miss Nicole Dupy—GGGG Granddaughter of 1st Sgt. Elisha Dixon, 47th IL. Inf.
Master Leo Fikes—GG Grandson of Pvt. William Riley Peyton, 10th MO. Cav.
Master Nathan Fikes— GG Grandson of Pvt. William Riley Peyton, 10th MO. Cav.
Miss Sierra Helenthal—GGG Granddaughter of Pvt. James Charles Holderness, 17th IL. Cav.