Memorial Day 2022 Volunteers Needed To Place 25,000 Flags At Bay Pines

BAY PINES, FL — As Memorial Day approaches, Bay Pines National Cemetery located on the campus of the Veterans Administration Center in Pinellas County has asked for volunteers to come out and place 25,000 flags on the cemetery grounds to honor veterans who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May, and Memorial Day 2022 will occur on Monday, May 30.

"Originally known as Decoration Day, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971," History.com said. "Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season."

On Memorial Day 2021, a Patch reporter spoke to family members of veterans who visited their loved ones buried at Bay Pines National Cemetery, and some people were concerned about all tombstones not having a flag placed next to them.

"VA policy only requires flags along the entrance and routes through its cemeteries; the task of decorating every grave falls to volunteer groups or families," Douglas Maddox, cemetery director of Bay Pines National Cemetery, told St. Pete Patch in a 2021 interview.

Memorial Day 2022 flag placement is scheduled for Sunday, May 29 at 9 a.m., and the pickup will be Saturday, June 4 at 9 a.m.

If you would like to volunteer, sign up at Flags For Fallen Vets. Use the drop-down menu and choose Bay Pines National Cemetery when you sign up.

If you can't make it out to volunteer, but would still like to help, money to help purchase flags for the volunteers to place on cemetery grounds can be donated at Flags For Fallen Vets Donations.

Bay Pines National Cemetery is located at 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines.

Related Patch Story

• Why Were No Flags On 1,000 Graves For Memorial Day?: VA Response