On May 23, Oregon State University Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine ROTC Cadets raised U.S. flags on the grave sites of those who served and were laid to rest at the Crystal Lake Cemetery in Benton County, Ore.

“I think it’s very important to remember our Veterans, they fought and died for our country and for us to be here today—so everything we can do to remember them and honor them is very important,” said Shale Paulson from Corvallis, Ore., an Oregon State University (OSU) ROTC Air Force Cadet.

According to a release from the Benton County Government, Crystal Lake Cemetery is a Pioneer Cemetery. American pioneers founded such cemeteries during the territorial expansion of the United States, with founding dates spanning from the late 18th to early 20th centuries.

“It’s a historic cemetery with almost every aspect of our county’s history represented including the Veterans who were laid to rest here,” said Shane Galloway, Benton County’s Natural Areas Parks and Events (NAPE) Maintenance Manager. “We manage this with a very small budget, and it takes quite a bit of work to maintain it. We have volunteers who spend hundreds of hours here each year trying to keep up the cemetery.”

Benton County says the land for the Crystal Lake Cemetery was deeded to Corvallis Masonic Lodge #14 in 1860 and cemetery operations and management were transferred to Benton County in 2001.

A walk through the Cemetery reveals some prominent names known to Benton County, Oregon State University, and Corvallis including Joseph Avery, General Thomas Jones Thorp, Benjamin Lee Arnold, among other Veterans being honored this Memorial Day.

“There’s so much history here for our region, some of the most prominent families in Benton County history are represented here,” said Jesse Ott, NAPE Deputy Director.

Thanks to the hard work of County employees and volunteers the site has been well maintained preserving a connection to Benton County’s past, and this Memorial Day it is the Veterans resting at Crystal Lake Cemetery receiving a symbolic honor with U.S. flags raised at their burial sites.

'I believe in honoring and respecting the fallen and the people that have served. It is a big reason why I wanted to serve.' — John Leong, First Year OSU Army ROTC Cadet