Originally published: 2024-06-20T13:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.
This year marked the 75th year of the Gravois Trail Memorial Day Good Turn Boy Scout flag-placing at every gravesite at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
Started in 1949, the council chairman, Ollie Tilghman, said at the beginning it was 20,000 graves and 150 scouts. Now 4,000 scouts and parents place flags at 181,000 graves.
The flag placing event instills a sense of gratitude for the nation’s Veterans. “That’s one of the biggest things we can say the Scouts take away from this is to have a big piece of history that they can go back and say, ‘This person sacrificed everything just so we could go to the movies or walk the streets free,’” Tilghman said.
This year’s event came with an extra challenge. The night after all the flags were placed, a storm knocked downhalf of them. That night on Facebook at 9 p.m., a “chain started” of texts and phone calls, so that about 55 people were back at the cemetery early the next morning. They replaced the flags in time for a 10 a.m. Veterans group event.
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Caretaker Supervisor Chad Blissett said the young volunteers are a key part of the Memorial Day preparations. “We couldn’t do it without them. They had their ceremony at noon and, by no later than 2 o’clock, every grave site had a flag on it. It’s a big deal,” Blissett added, noting that there are usually 10,000 cars that come through the cemetery over the weekend to see the flags and pay their respects.
Tilghman said the hard work is worth it and encourages others to volunteer on what is usually a sunny day doing a “good turn.” “I feel like I’m giving back to the community as well as those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice,” Tilghman said.
For information about VA burial benefits, visit one of VA’s National Cemetery Locations in-person, visit online at VA burial benefits and memorial items, or call toll free at 800-827-1000. To plan for you and your family, visit NCA’s pre-need eligibility website.
Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.
