Dozens of volunteers from the community, including children as young as three-years-old, gathered at Bayside Cemetery in Sturgeon Bay on Thursday, May 22nd to help place flags to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day.
Volunteers were given a clipboard with names to mark off as they walked through sections of the cemetery to place a flag on each veteran’s grave. Each headstone, many of which noted the individual’s service, was a significant reminder of their dedication and sacrifice.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 3088 Quartermaster Bill Graf said a total of 1,700 flags were placed in multiple cemeteries throughout the county and estimates there were 50-75 volunteers this year.
“It was a wonderful turn out and I think the volunteers that showed up makes the job a lot easier,” said Graf, “I just couldn’t believe it, it does my heart good to see people willing to get involved in the recognition of veterans.”
Flags are placed each year and there is still an opportunity to help. Graf is looking for volunteers to help remove the flags after the holiday, too.
“If you want to help take the flags off, we’ll be doing that on Wednesday, weather permitting,” he said, “it’s much easier taking the flags off than putting them in because you don’t have to worry about names or numbers.”
Volunteers can meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 28th at the Bayside Cemetery Chapel to begin collecting the flags.
