Volunteers place flags to remember heroes
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on May 24, 2015 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Bob Guyse, a member of American Legion Post 11, places flags beside the gravestones of veterans in Willowdale Cemetery on Saturday.
Kelley Craver paused over the grave of Ralph Ringgold Faison.
"Oh sir, thank you," she said.
She knelt by his grave and placed a small American flag in front of it.
Faison served in both World Wars before passing away in 1953.
Mrs. Craver stood up and continued her walk to the next soldier's grave in Willowdale Cemetery.
"It makes you ponder things," she said.
She paused at each grave after placing a flag and reflected on her life as a military spouse. She spent a moment in silence, wondering what the person accomplished during the dash of time between the birth date and the death date.
"I wonder about all the people who came before us, do they have families still?"
She and her husband, Jeffery, elected to spend their Memorial Day weekend honoring veterans.
They were two of the many volunteers, both civilian and veteran, who spent Saturday morning placing flags at the graves of veterans.
The volunteers began their morning at the American Legion post in Dudley. They enjoyed a hearty breakfast before splitting into groups.
President of the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition Bill Graham said there were 4,000 flags between the seven cemeteries the volunteers visited.
"It's for all veterans, regardless of the war," Graham said.
Bob Guyse, of the Coalition, laid the first flag in Willowdale at the base of the grave of Texas Ranger Jared K. White.
White fought in the Civil War for the Confederate army. He lies under a Texas state flag.
All 650 veterans buried in Willowdale were given an American flag to honor their service, regardless of what side or war they fought in.
"It means so much for us to go out in the cemetery and honor the rest of our brothers and sisters," Graham said.
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base 4th Fighter Wing Vice Commander Andrew Bernard gave a speech, thanking the volunteers for their action.
"Memorial Day is a unique American moment," he said.
The volunteers were doing more than planting flags in the ground, he said. It was about honoring the fallen, and continuing to uphold the values that the flag stands for.
"We give them the utmost respect," he said.
For 11-year-old William Holland, it was about giving thanks.
The Boy Scout wanted to honor the fallen.
At one point, he said he contemplated service.
"I was thinking about it when I was younger, but now I probably won't," he said. But he still wants to remember those who have served.
"I want to thank them for their service," he said.
Many Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts joined the ceremonies.
For 13-year-old David Farrell, this is his second year laying the flags. He and his mother, Pam, go to Willowdale. There were 650 flags for the cemetery.
"It's important to remember them," David said.
Mrs. Farrell says they do it because of their own connection to the military.
"We've really enjoyed the military lifestyle," she said, as a military spouse.
Darlene Duffley was very happy with the youth involvement this year. She is an active member in the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition.
"Honoring our heroes is never outdated," she said. "We want to get the community involved with our veterans."
She got involved two years ago through the coalition.
"I never thought about who put the flags out," she said. "There is a lot of history out here."