Volunteers Needed To Place Flags On Veterans' Graves In West Hartford

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The town Friday issued a call for volunteers who are needed to install flags on 1,200 veterans' gravesites this Saturday, May 17.

Each year, West Hartford honors Memorial Day by remembering local veterans with a small American flag at their gravesites.

There are more than 1,200 military graves in Fairview Cemetery, 200 Whitman Ave., West Hartford, and volunteers from the community are asked to assist the American Legion Hayes-Velhage Post 96 in placing flags to honor their service.

The flag initiative will take place on Saturday, May 17, rain or shine.

Volunteers are asked to assemble at the Cemetery Maintenance building at 8:30 a.m. for instructions on the proper placement of flags and an assignment area.

If folks can help, they can just come. No RSVP is needed. To assist in the placement of the flag, bring a screwdriver to prepare a hole in the ground for the flag.

Flag collection

Meanwhile, the chapter will also host a collection of retired flags on Saturday, May 17, from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

Hayes-Velhage Post 96 will collect any American flags that need to be retired.

When no longer in use, an American flag is retired at a ceremony where it is burned.

Flags will be collected at the sign-in area at Fairview Cemetery.