Marine Corps League fulfills Memorial Day tradition

UPPER DARBY » Members of the Marine Corps League Detachment 884 placed flags on the graves of veterans at Arlington Cemetery in Drexel Hill Friday evening.

“We usually go in small groups and in different directions, so keeping space should not be a problem,” Pete Leahy, detachment adjutant, wrote in an email notifying members of the event.

Detachment Commandant Jim Cook said the organization usually places up to 1,000 flags in the cemetery in the weeks before Memorial Day with assistance from local Boy Scout troops. This year, they are being cautious during the

COVID-19 pandemic not to subject anyone to unnecessary exposure. Members wore masks as they kept separated and walked through the cemetery, replacing

1,000 flags.

“We take out old flags, replace them with new flags, and properly dispose of the old ones,” Cook said. “We’ve been doing this for over 20 years.”

“They did it for us. We can do it for them,” said Cook. “The few, the proud, the lucky. I consider myself a lucky one. I went through hell in Vietnam.”

Cook said this year will be much different for the Marine Corps League on Memorial Day. Normally, it would hold eight or nine flag ceremonies and salutes to departed Marines and their family members at cemeteries, followed by a barbecue. But with the pandemic this year, that is all on hold. Members may hold a brief ceremony on their front lawn on Providence Road in Secane, raising and then lowering the flag to half mast, and playing Taps.

There are three Medal of Honor recipients buried at Arlington, including the first Marine to be recognized with the award, John F. Mackie (1835-1910). Mackie was cited for his actions in the Civil War. The two other Medal of Honor recipients at Arlington are Theodore F. Smith (1852–

1925) who served as a private in the cavalry during skirmishes with native tribes in the late 1860s and David M. Buchanan (18621936), Peacetime Navy Medal of Honor recipient, who saved a shipmate from drowning at risk to his on life while on board the USS Saratoga.

“It’s a great thing. It’s called payback. These guys served for us and we’re happy to remember them,” said Cooke.

PETE BANNAN - MEDIANEWS GROUP Christian Ricciuti, 6, places a flag on a veteran’s grave at Arlington Cemetery Friday evening. His grandfather is a member of the Upper Darby Marine Corps League.

PETE BANNAN - MEDIANEWS GROUP Detachment Commandant Jim Cook gets ready to place flags at Arlington Cemetery.

PETE BANNAN - MEDIANEWS GROUP Bill Jones and his grandson Gavin Borter, 14, places flags on veterans’ graves at Arlington Cemetery.

PETE BANNAN - MEDIANEWS GROUP John Bergin of Secane places a flag on his uncle John Bergin’s grave at Arlington Cemetery. His uncle was a Navy veteran of World War II.

PETE BANNAN - MEDIANEWS GROUP Tom Weaver hands flags to Bill Jones and his grandson Gavin Borter, 14, to place on veterans’ graves at Arlington Cemetery.