The West Hartford community was asked to help remove flags that were planted for Memorial Day, and veterans and other citizens showed up in force.

Photo credit: Hayes-Velhage Post 96

Submitted

During the last week of May the call went out to veterans and citizens of West Hartford for support of the removal of flags placed at veterans’ graves for Memorial Day to honor all veterans buried at Fairview Cemetery.

On Saturday, June 4 the response was overwhelming. Over 100 people answered the call and the process was completed in less than one hour.

Veterans, members of multiple West Hartford Scout troops, and others gathered at Fairview Cemetery to complete a tradition initiated in town over 40 years ago by the late Jean Paul Berard.

The tradition of placing flags on veterans’ graves is recognized throughout our country. At Arlington Nationl Cemetery in Virginia, over 280,000 are placed at headstones to honor every individual buried there.

Renee McCue, Public Relations specialist for the Town of West Hartford, said, “The number of people who have participated here today I think demonstrates the spirit and support our community offers when asked.”

About the American Legion

The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It is the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization, committed to mentoring youth and sponsorship of wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.

The American Legion Post 96 of West Hartford has been serving our veterans and community since 1922 and is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year. The Post is open to all military veterans who have served honorably and military personnel currently on active duty. If you have a veteran family member in a West Hartford nursing home we’d like to know about it so we can honor them with a paid one year membership. If your son or daughter is serving on active duty now and calls West Hartford their home, let us know. Further information on joining is available at www.post96.org or by contacting the Post at Hayes-Velhage Post 96 , P.O. Box 370160, West Hartford, CT 06137-0160. Phone 860-233-9029​ [email protected].

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