Scouts place flags at graves of Birdsboro veterans
More than 800 American flags placed at St. Michael’s Cemetery
>> About 50 Scouts from kindergarten through high school placed more than 800 American flags at veteran’s graves at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Birdsboro in preparation for Memorial Day.
“Birdsboro is honored to have two existing Patriotic Veteran’s Organizations; Birdsboro American Legion Post 626, Chartered in 1922 and Birdsboro Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Memorial Post 411, Chartered in 1976. Both organizations have a long history in supporting Scouting, and veterans have always been a great leadership source by virtue of life experience in helping the youth build character and positive traits,” said local veteran Robert Mealand of Birdsboro. “It is the veteran who founded this country.”
Mealand said the placement of American flags on veterans’ graves dates back to 1868 when it began at Arlington
National Cemetery, then called Decoration Day.
“This time-honored tradition, now Memorial Day, is to honor those that died in the service of our country,” said Mealand.
Locally, the Berks County Veterans Administration maintains the data for veterans’ final resting places and provides the American flags to various organizations to place in assigned cemeteries, explained Mealand.
The Birdsboro American Legion and VFW share 11 local cemeteries and more than 1,550 veterans’ graves.
“The tradition of reaching out to our community and Scouts to assist in this endeavor has been increasing over the last few years because, for some of us older veterans, this is difficult physically,” said Mealand. “It is a win-win situation getting our Scouts involved in that it enforces respect, citizenship, patriotism, and love of country, and they have fun and love the honor of doing it!”
Prior to distributing the flags, Mealand gathered the scouts around the gravestone of Rose A. Hiscock, who was a U.S. Army Nurse during World War I. He explained the importance of the roles both men and women served our country.
Girl Scouts of Daniel Boone Service Unit 763 comanager Cory Derer of Birdsboro described the event.
“The Scouts quickly unloaded a truck full of patriotic new flags. Everyone was filled with positive energy and excited to get to work. Many of our Scouts look forward to this tradition and enjoy working with the members of the American Legion.”
The Cub Scouts and BSY Troop started at the south end of the cemetery, while the Girl Scout Troops started at the north side. It only took about 45 minutes to complete the task. When finished, the Scouts met back at their starting point to chat with the veterans, and thank them.
“Many shook hands and gave hugs. It is truly a unique bond that these young kids have with our veterans,” said Derer.
Senior Patrol Leader of Daniel Boone BSA Troop 595 Evan Fryer, 16, of Birdsboro, helped lead younger members of the Troop to place flags at appropriately marked graves. Fryer talked about a deep connection between the American Legion and Scouting.
“The Legion has supported our Troop in countless ways and with multiple Eagle Scout projects throughout the years,” said Fryer.
Troop 595 has been participating in the flag ceremony since the early years of the troop.
“Ever since the founding
of our Troop in 1955, we’ve been proud to assist them in flag placements, flag retirements, and other ceremonies,” said Fryer. “I personally enjoy this event because I like being respectful and remembering our veterans and those who have served our country in war and peace.”
“It was a great day! Almost our entire troop attended because we recognize the importance and purpose of serving others,” he added.
For the third year in a row, sisters Aubrey and Melanie Grauber, along with fellow Girl Scout troopmates, helped to place flags among the graves.
“Volunteering at the flag placement makes me feel good because we are remembering the ones who died for us,” said Aubrey Grauber, 9, of Douglassville, a member of Brownie Troop 1703. “Volunteering in the community makes me feel like part of the community.”
The young girls gleamed with pride, while they carefully checked each grave for a military plaque.
“Placing the flags each year makes me feel happy because we are helping replace the old torn flags with new ones. We can’t wait for the Memorial Day Parade to pay tribute to our fallen soldiers,” said Melanie Grauber, 7, of Douglassville, also in Brownie Troop 1703.
For Joshua Larrimore, 15,
of Bally, a First Class Scout of Troop 595, an event like this is something he enjoys a lot.
“I like being able to get to honor the people that served and gave up everything for our country,” said Larrimore. “It also was a learning experience for the younger kids as they learned events in our history they may not have known.”
“Overall, I think it was a fun experience and great that I get to help honor the people who fought for our country and freedom,” he added.
In his first year participating in the event, Henry Balmer, 5, of Birdsboro, a member of Tiger Cub Scout of Pack 595, placed flags on veterans’ graves to honor their sacrifices.
“They’re our heroes,” said Balmer.
His father, Erik, joined him at the event and spoke of the positive experience Cub Scouts has been for his son.
“Through the Scouting program, Henry has been able to try new activities, meet new friends and serve the community,” said the elder Balmer. “We really like that it is a family environment and the younger siblings can participate as well.”
As a first-year leader, this was the first year Kindergarten Daisy Troop 1006 Leader Ashley Moser, of Douglassville, participated in the annual flag placement. On their
way to the cemetery, both of her daughters asked why they were doing this.
“You know the men and women who serve in the military? When they die, some will get buried at a place like this. On Memorial Day we celebrate those men and women who sacrificed and gave their lives for our freedom,” Moser explained to her daughters. “So, today we will place an American flag on grave sites of those men and women that have served to honor them.”
Their response was, “That is awesome we get to do that for them.”
“Having lots of members in our family that have served in the military, it was our honor to give back and to share this with my children,” Moser said.
“I think exposing young children to community service is very important because they need to see what our community is all about and to see where they think they need to give back to make it a better place,” she concluded. “I love seeing my children look up to their fellow sister Scouts and can’t wait to see them grow throughout their Girl Scout years to come. I love being my daughter’s troop leader, to give her all the opportunities that Girl Scouts have to offer. Every weekend there is something different and amazing.”