Help needed in honoring fallen Valley veterans

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – Before solemn ceremonies are held on Memorial Day, there is a lot of work taking place to get cemeteries ready.

“There are 40,000 to 50,000 flags that go on 32 cemeteries, and we’re trying to accommodate everybody,” said Leo Connelly, with the Veterans Service Commission.

In Youngstown’s Calvary Cemetery alone there are nearly 8,000 service member graves. Although different organizations oversee the placement of American flags next to each headstone, organizers are looking for volunteers to help.

Jim Stein is in charge of the Youngstown Diocese’s three local Catholic cemeteries. Decoration ceremonies will held at all three this Saturday at 9 a.m.

“So many graves, and 130 acres to cover. We’ll take as many as we can get,” Stein said. “Color Guard, National Guard, National Anthem, taps and rifle salute and then with the help of volunteers, distribute the flags.”

Across the area, local veterans service commissions provide small American flags to veterans groups and other agencies so they can decorate the tens of thousands of graves in the area. Then, they pick them all up again after July 4. It’s a huge undertaking.

Connelly says he’d like to see the Veterans Commission establish a list of people willing to volunteer at different events throughout the year.

“We’re trying to say to people ask us, ‘What can I do to help, be a patriot for the community,'” Connelly said.

For now, that includes placing the flags for Memorial Day and then removing them in July.

The Diocese of Youngstown will have ceremonies at its three cemeteries in the area this Saturday at 9 a.m. They include: Calvary Cemetary in Youngstown, Resurrection Cemetary in Austintown and All Souls Cemetary in Cortland. Flag removal will be on July 12.

Forest Lawn Cemetary in Boardman will have a decorating event Friday, May 24 beginning at 9 a.m. Forest Lawn will then remove the American flags on July 5.

People wanting to volunteer can simply show up at any of the above locations on the dates involved or call their county’s Veterans Service Commission to see where and when they can help.

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