Flags for Memorial Day

[af1212]

Hoping you could help?!

About 2 years ago I read an article that mentioned there are fewer and fewer people every year to put flags on the graves of WWII veterans for Memorial Day because the population of their peers is aging. I am a SAHM and would be more than happy to do this - and think it would be a nice project for my kids to help with too if appropriate.

I contacted several organizations last year to try to figure out if there was a contact in my area I could talk with but was unsuccessful. And today I'm feeling badly that I didn't try harder and another Memorial Day has gone by. I'm determined to start early (a year ahead!) this time and figure it out by next May!!

Does anyone here know if this is something I could help with and if so could anyone point me in the right direction for who to contact?

[audette]

We have a national cemetery on the base here. So, I heard about the flag-placing (and removing - they will need help removing all of the flags tomorrow, too) via the military spouses group on base, as well as from the base's facebook page.

From others I spoke with at the flag-placing, there were announcements in the local newspaper, as well, and a number of community groups had obviously organized groups to come help... I saw boy scouts in uniform, some patriot riders (I think) in their vests, some other groups in matching shirts, etc. I didn't really know anyone there (we're new to town here), but did manage to run into another spouse from the base that I vaguely recognized from a couple events we had both attended.


As far as I know, the organization was fairly basic - a date and time was announced for placing the flags, and for removing them, with backup dates (and times) for inclement weather, and the announcement mentioned a specific place in the cemetery to meet. I managed to get there just in time (all the volunteers had backed up the base's gate security point, making it take longer than normal to get onto base). Many folks had obviously been doing it for years - they knew exactly what was going on, how to do it, etc.

The organizers gave fairly basic instructions, and split us into three groups to head to different areas of the cemetery. They also had some rebar pre-made hole maker things. I'm not describing those well, but they had a handle at the top, a measuring length on the bottom so you could place it a set distance in front of the gravestone, and a crosspiece to step on to push the bottom point into the soil, which made a small hole to place the flag stick into. So we worked in pairs - one with the rebar tool, one carrying the flags and placing them into the holes once they were made. Well, mostly worked in pairs. Some folks who obviously knew what they were doing came prepared with bags for the flags and gloves for handling the rebar tools, and set off on their own.



I'll admit, I was expecting it to take _hours_. The cemetery here is _big_. But, there were so many volunteers that my partner and I were only able to place the two bundles of flags she initially grabbed, because there were no more to grab when we went back to get more. I think there were 25 flags in each of the two bundles we had. I was walking back to my car less than an hour after we started.


There were kids there. I saw a few babies in carriers, and toddlers who kinda "helped", but mostly looked cute. As well as some older kids who were more involved in placing flags. The rebar things for making the holes probably needs a teenager/adult bodyweight to use, but placing the flags is something a kid can do.



Anyways, to help out next year, I'd suggest contacting your nearest national cemetery. There must be a contact at them to arrange burials (at least, if there is another contact, I'd go with them), and I would bet they could point you towards whoever organizes this for the cemetery. I'd start there. If you can't find that contact, or get no response, then maybe I'd try contacting your local VFWs. I'm guessing they would probably know something about this. If the nearest cemetery to you is near/on a base, I'd also contemplate contacting the public affairs office on that base. They might be able to help you out, too.



The only exception to all of this is if your nearest national cemetery is Arlington. I think the Old Guard has the exclusive rights to placing the flags there. You might need to go a bit farther from home if that is your nearest national cemetery.

[auntie]

I just saw this.

Our boy scout troops take care of this, along with the local VFW and American Legions, at the town and church cemeteries. The Guardians of the National Cemetery oversee the National Cemetery.

I'd call your town's VFW or Legion and see if they need help.

Another child friendly event is Wreaths Across America. My scouts participate in this one as well.

www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/