Leo Club Members Place Flags On The Graves Of Veterans

By Brian M. Johnson, The Bristol Press

May 26, 2022

Leo Club members from Eli Terry Junior Middle School placed flags on the graves of veterans at Hillside Cemetery this Wednesday in honor of Memorial Day.

The members of the Leo Club, which is a youth division of the Lion’s Club, assisted with the replacement of flags in sections 1 and 2 of Hillside Cemetery, near the Civil War Monument. The replacing of flags at local cemeteries is coordinated by Marty Sandshaw of the Plymouth Memorial Day Committee.

Sandshaw thanked the youths for their help in this effort.

“It is so wonderful to have you step up to volunteer to do this,” he said. “Do the best you can and thank you for what you are doing.”

Drew Fowler, 13, said he was glad to help.

“It makes me feel happy to be able to honor people that kept us safe and free,” he said.

Bobby Schnaars, 13, said that this was the second year he helped out with the changing of flags.

“I like to do this,” he said. “It makes me feel good to honor the people that died for us.”

Gianna Botto, who will also be reading a poem at this year’s Memorial Day ceremony, said she was honored to help.

“I feel honored doing this for people who went out to fight in wars to protect our homes,” she said.

One of the graves that Botto placed a flag on was that of Charles Buell, a former mayor of the Town of Plymouth, who served in World War II and the Korean War.

Youths were told to check the names off from each grave as they placed a flag on them. If grass had grown over markings on the ground, the youths cleared it away.

Shannon Surreira, one of two Leo Club advisors who accompanied the students to Hillside Cemetery Wednesday, said that the Leo Club is about getting kids involved in their communities in meaningful ways. The club has long been active at the high school. At the middle school, it was known as the “Kids in the Middle” club until last year.

“I’m proud of their efforts,” she said. “Today was a half-day for them and they chose to give up their free time to go out and do this.”

Stephanie Fuller, the other Leo Club advisor who came to Hillside Cemetery that day, said that it was nice to see the kids getting involved in their community.

“If it weren’t for the Leo Club, I’m not sure that they would have as many opportunities like this,” she said. “It’s awesome to see that they care and want to do something to honor the veterans.”

Sandshaw said that several community volunteers as well as local churches assist with the changing of 1,250 flags each year at nine local cemeteries.

“The town is very fortunate – everybody does a little,” he said. “The old flags will be brought to the American Legion where they will be burned with a flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day, June 14.”

Sandshaw explained that Hillside Cemetery used to be where the town held its Memorial Day ceremony before it was moved to Baldwin Park when the Veterans Monument was put up there.

Brian M. Johnson can be reached at 860-973-1806 or bjohnson@bristolpress.com.