Decorating Graves
Veterans of Foreign Wars members, joined by American Legion Post 6 veterans, will descend upon Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery early Saturday morning to decorate the graves of veterans with flags. This marks the beginning of Memorial Day weekend.
The veterans have made this a family tradition. Joining them are wives, children, grandchildren, and friends. Local Boy Scout Troop 835 assisted last year.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars throughout America will decorate local graves, hold memorial ceremonies and distribute red Buddy Poppies. Locally, Over 500 flags are ready for placement.
Flag placement begins at 6:30 a.m., Saturday, May 29th, at Memorial Cemetery on Legion Road. Everyone is welcome to join the veterans as they decorate the graves of military men and women.
“We will place a flag at every marked grave, but we will still not cover all veteran graves.” said Lee Heavlin, Post Commander, C V Cummings Chapel Hill Post 9100. “Not all headstones bear the distinct markings of a veteran. Each year we are told of some that did not get a flag,” he said.
It takes about 90 minutes to carpet the cemetery. A brief closing memorial ceremony and playing of TAPS will take place at 8 a.m. It is for the people of Chapel Hill and participation by the public is welcome.
Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery is the final resting place of many notable local figures. Many served in the armed services. From private to Admiral, all ranks are represented. There is even a Tuskeegee Airman, 2nd Lieutenant John Brister Turner, buried there.
The tradition of decorating graves of war veterans goes back to the 1860’s when Southern women’s groups decorated the graves of civil war dead in May.
