Knowing that it is traditional to place a flag on each grave in national cemeteries the Saturday preceding Memorial Day, I took advantage of this beautiful Saturday evening and drove through the National Cemetery (in Chattanooga). As I expected, the flags were all in place.
I suppose I'll always find the sight of flags fluttering over each grave moving, even though one tends to take it for granted after seeing it for years on end. But I saw a sight today that made me stop and observe and ponder.
Have you even wondered how all those flags get there? I've read and been told that for the most part, the Scouts have for years, taken the biggest part in placing all those millions of flags across this nation. Often these volunteers work unobserved and without any real thanks well into the night. (And thanks to the ACLU, sponsorship of these young men and women by the military or any government agency is now in jeopardy.)
I observed three young men getting out of a van several times that was slowly cruising the narrow roads in the cemetery. Each time they got out they would begin straightening or righting fallen flags they had spotted. They finally continued across the slopes without returning to the van.
I stopped to inquire of the driver why they what undertaking this daunting task. She told me that her Girl Scout troop had been out early this morning helping with the placement of the flags, and she always drove back through after the flags were in place - and could not drive by flags that had fallen. Her boys had taken it on themselves to make thing right before Sunday.
I thanked the young men for their service and continued on around the drive. But as we drove I began to notice numerous flags that had fallen, and of course, I felt compelled to stop and make right the few I came across. I then began noticing several others across the slopes who were doing likewise.
I know that next year I'll not likely take for granted all those flags I see fluttering in the breeze.
Dave Newell