No Grave Left Behind At Bay Pines National Cemetery, Memorial Day 2022

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Volunteers put a flag at every headstone in the Bay Pines National Cemetery on Memorial Day 2022.

A Patch reporter walked at the cemetery late Sunday morning and saw there were no missing flags. A difference from 2021 when more than a thousand headstones were without flags.

A Veterans Affairs volunteer, Leslie Eaves told Patch she'd never seen so many people show up to help at the cemetery for Memorial Day. She said hundreds of folks helped place 28,000 American flags at headstones.

"We were finished at about 10:30 a.m.," Eaves said. "It was wonderful seeing so many people come out today and volunteer their time to honor our brave men and women who are no longer with us. There were also families that came out and placed flags by their loved one's headstones. So many organizations came out to volunteer like the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, veterans' groups."

Eaves' husband, John Eaves, fought in Vietnam from 1970-to 1971 after the U.S. Army drafted him. Eaves said she was grateful that he got to come back home to her. John straightened flags that had blown over by the wind during the interview.

John said all flags are to be standing when families arrive Monday to remember their loved ones at the first in-person ceremony since 2019.

A motorcycle group then slowly drove by blaring "God Bless America" as they paid their respects to the fallen.

The 2022 Increase In Flags, The 2021 Lack Of American Flags At Gravesites

In 2021, many families felt upset when they saw the absence of a flag at their loved one's gravesite. A Patch reporter, on Memorial Day 2021, counted 1,005 flagless headstones—only a partial count.

Volunteers have always placed flags at national cemeteries, Doug Maddox, director of Bay Pines National Cemetery, said in a 2021 Patch interview.

According to Maddox, there is no standing policy for the VA to put a flag on every individual gravesite.

Maddox told Patch Monday he felt humbling gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community this year.

"The volunteer website had over 650 who signed up," Maddox said. "It's one thing to sign up, it's another to actually show up and help place 28,000 flags. We had to have had close to 700 people show up. Many just heard we needed help and showed up."

Maddox said at first he felt nervous they wouldn't have enough help, but his fear subsided when he saw many cars pulling up at the cemetery at 7:30 a.m., an hour and a half before the 9 a.m. start time.

"They placed 28,000 flags in 38 minutes. A coordinated effort between our partner, Flags For Fallen Vets, and our volunteers produced an amazing, inspiring Memorial Day experience for our veterans, their families and visitors," Maddox said.

How Did The VA Get 28,000 Flags For Bay Pines National Cemetery?

When Patch interviewed Maddox about the missing flags in 2021, he said he would do what he could to prevent a repeat in 2022. In the past, families and organizations would bring flags they purchased. The VA did not provide flags.

Maddox said before the pandemic, it was easier for folks to buy flags because, unlike today, not as many were experiencing a financial strain or so many job losses.

Maddox reached out to a nonprofit group, Flags For Fallen Vets, based out of Texas, and secured 28,000 flags donated by the organization.

"We will have Flags For Fallen Vets as a partner for years to come," Maddox said.

More than a thousand people attended the Memorial Day 2022 service at Bay Pines Monday, according to Maddox.

When Is The Next Time To Volunteer At Bay Pines National Cemetery?

An upcoming volunteer opportunity is Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m., for the collection of flags at the headstones.

A volunteer opportunity is scheduled in December for Wreaths Across America. Patch will publish more details when Maddox releases them.

To sign up for volunteering or donate to the Flags For Fallen Vets, visit its website.

Patch Related Stories

• Flags Missing From Over 1K Veterans Graves At Bay Pines National
• Why Were No Flags On 1,000 Graves For Memorial Day?: VA Response