Veterans’ graves at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens get flags for Memorial Day

Palmer-Roberts American Legion Post 214 member John Perry places a new flag at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens May 24 while his six-year-old grandson, Wyatt, looks to follow suit. In all, six other members of the Palmer-Roberts American Legion Post 214 family helped Perry and Wyatt place over 1,000 flags in honor of Memorial Day.
Palmer-Roberts American Legion Post 214 member John Perry places a new flag at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens May 24 while his six-year-old grandson, Wyatt, looks to follow suit. In all, six other members of the Palmer-Roberts American Legion Post 214 family helped Perry and Wyatt place over 1,000 flags in honor of Memorial Day. Chad Felton — The News-Herald

By Chad Felton, The News-Herald

Palmer-Roberts American Legion Post 214 members at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chester Township on May 24. Every year, in recognition of Memorial Day, the group visits area cemeteries to honor fallen members of the United States Armed Forces by placing flags on gravesites
Palmer-Roberts American Legion Post 214 members at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chester Township on May 24. Every year, in recognition of Memorial Day, the group visits area cemeteries to honor fallen members of the United States Armed Forces by placing flags on gravesites Chad Felton — The News-Herald

History of Memorial Day

Cities in both the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. More than two dozen places have been connected to the origin of Memorial Day. Most of those areas are in the South where most of the soldiers were buried. A variety of tributes and memorial ceremonies were held throughout recent U.S. history. However, the day wasn’t expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars until after World War I. By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation.

Here is a look at the history of Memorial Day in the United States:

April 25, 1866

One of the first tributes to those lost occurred in Columbus, Miss. A group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. The women placed some of their flowers on nearby bare graves of Union soldiers as well.

May 5, 1868

Three years after the Civil War ended, the head of the Grand Army of the Republic — an organization of Union veterans — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. May 30 was declared as the day to observe Decoration Day. The date was believed to be chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the United States. The first large observance was held at Arlington National Cemetery.

May 5, 1966

Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day.

A ceremony was held to honor local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff.

1971

Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. Memorial Day was also set on the last Monday in May of every year.

December 2000

Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act.” The law created the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission encourages and helps coordinate Memorial Day commemorations in the United States.

— Information from va.gov

John Perry knew his 6-year-old grandson, Wyatt, had his last day of school this week, so on May 24, he decided to continue the young man’s education at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chester Township.

Perry was joined at the cemetery by six other members of the Palmer-Roberts American Legion Post 214, located in Willoughby, as the group roamed the grounds placing American flags at the gravesites of veterans and their spouses, explaining to Wyatt why they were there that day.

“It’s his first day out of school, so we put him to work,” Perry said, smiling. “It’s his fist time out, and it’s important he knows the significance and history of Memorial Day. And he’s been happy to help. He even put flags in vases in the mausoleum.

“There weren’t many people out here today, but it went well. A lot of groups frequently head to All Souls Cemetery (in Chardon), but the honor is still there.”

During the day, the group placed or replaced over 1,000 flags, donated by Lake County, in addition to a supply provided by Palmer-Roberts.

“We’ve been coming out to different places for longer than I can remember,” said Joe Eckenrode, the post’s finance officer. “And this cemetery isn’t that old, so it’s special.”

The 40-acre Western Reserve Memorial Gardens was established in 1963. An expansive section at the back of the grounds, dedicated to veterans and their spouses, stands out to visitors, signified by a tower adorned with a trio of descending bells.

Another first-timer at Western Reserve was Dianne Woerner, second vice president in the auxiliary.

“I always had to work before,” she said. “But this act is very humbling and honorable. I’m so happy to be part of it.”

Auxiliary President Sue Fratino fondly remembers the first time she came out with the group, walking with then-President Louise “LuLu” Cichon and now-Post Adjutant Jim Trettin.

“I wasn’t a member of the auxiliary at the time,” Fratino said. “I was asked by LuLu if I was going to attend a meeting and I said I couldn’t because I wasn’t a member. Jim then asked if my father was a veteran and I told him he was, that he was with the National Guard. He asked me to get him my dad’s paperwork, and after that, because of Jim, I became a member. All because I had come then and helped put flags on the graves.”

The military pedigree of post member Domenic Federico’s family not only compels him to participate every year, but also serves as an honor he feels proud to share with veterans and civilians alike.

“My dad was a World War II vet, my uncle was a Korean War vet, I served in the Vietnam Era and my cousin served in Iraq during Desert Storm,” Federico said, adding his wife also served in the armed forces as a member of the U.S. Army.

Trettin said Palmer-Roberts American Legion Post 214 was, and is, happy to have Fratino, and that the shared support of individual veterans, and veterans groups, no matter where, continues to be demonstrated in multiple communities.

“We’re a family and it is important that we do not forget the sacrifices of our military service members. By placing the flags on their graves, we honor those who have served and the families of those who have served.”

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