MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Dozens of volunteers showed up at Holy Cross Cemetery in Marquette on Thursday evening to help the American Legion Post 44 put up flags for each of the veterans buried there who have passed away.
The yearly tradition for the Post has grown over the years to include Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and many members of the community who come back to help each year.
“It means everything to us, as veterans, and it means a lot to the families,” said Tom Ranta, a member of American Legion Post 44 and longtime coordinator of putting flags up at the gravesites. “We want them to come out and put the flags on, and see the number of veterans that have perished over the years, and put the flag out in remembrance of them.”
The Post put up just under 1,400 flags at Park Cemetery on Wednesday night, and would put up nearly 1,600 more at Holy Cross on Thursday. Ranta says the volunteers really help with that task.
“They’re anxious to come out,” said Ranta. “A lot of them like to do their family members, naturally, or some relative or some neighbor. And they can explain to their kids what this all means.”
Ranta is thankful for the help, and believes that the act is not only a patriotic duty, but honors those that came before us that we owe so much to.
“We need more patriotism, and this is a peak day that is about those that have fallen,” he said. “We have to remember that as Americans, we wouldn’t have anything if we didn’t have those people out there doing what they did, risking their lives for this country. So it warms my heart to see the number of people that come out here to help with this benefit, to put these out, so everything looks nice during Memorial Day.”
The American Legion Post 44 will be putting over 140 flags up in Harlow Park on Monday morning, before having Memorial Day ceremonies at Park Cemetery at 9:30 am, followed by one at Holy Cross Cemetery at 10:15 am.
