May 16, 2023 |
Photo – A Veteran’s Grave at Rawlins Cemetery – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Rawlins American Legion needs volunteers to place flags on veteran’s graves for Memorial Day.
Every Memorial Day, members of American Legion Post 122 plant American flags on the graves of military servicemen and women interred in the Rawlins cemetery. District Commander Mike Sherr put out a call for volunteers. Sherr said so far, only one person other than the available American Legion members has offered to help.
Sherr said the Rawlins cemetery contains over 900 military graves. The American Legion Commander said the graveyard has two sections specifically for veterans, but not all military personnel are buried in the dedicated areas. To keep things organized, Sherr said volunteers have attempted to tag all the veteran monuments.
Sherr said with an adequate number of volunteers, the flags should all be in place before noon.
The American Legion Commander said he needs volunteers because he, and the other American Legion members, will be attending a military funeral on the day the flag placement is scheduled to occur.
Sherr said people interested in volunteering should comment on his Facebook post in the Rawlins News and Chatter group. The American Legion Commander said new people must be paired with experienced volunteers to ensure military protocol is followed.
Sherr, a veteran himself, said the Rawlins American Legion will hold a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 29th. Despite COVID fears keeping people from attending the ceremony in the past, the Legion Commander said he will continue to honor his fallen comrades.
Volunteers should meet at the front entrance of the Rawlins Cemetery on Saturday, May 27th, at 9:00am.
