Flag Decorations - Memorial Day Weekend, 2011
Truro Township - Reynoldsburg, Ohio
On Memorial Day weekend, the American Legion Post 798 Reynoldsburg, as it does every year, helped honor those departed who had served their country and rested in Reynoldsburg. The post officers conducted a Memorial Day service at the Silent Home Truro Township Cemetery, 1576 Lancaster Avenue, Reynoldsburg. This included Commander Tim Dunn, 1st Vice Commander Pete Margaritis, Past Post Commander and current 2nd Vice Commander Carl Bradley, Sergeant-at-Arms the Honorable Robert McPherson, Post Adjutant Michael Thomas, and Past Post Chaplain Tony DeSilva. Also in attendance were the Truro Township officials, Boy Scout Troop 279, and the full complement from the Truro Township Fire Department.
The small service began with a short benediction given by Past Post Commander Carl Bradley. Then Stan Knoderer, who is the township Road Superintendent and the cemetery's groundskeeper, accepted on behalf of the township a new American flag for the cemetery's flagpole.
The post's Sergeant-at-Arms and First Vice Commander (Bob McPherson and Pete Margaritis), then lowered the old, tattered flag. As the country's national anthem was played, the new flag was raised. (The retired colors will be ceremoniously destroyed with others on Flag Day at American Legion Don Gentile Post 532.)
Post Commander Tim Dunn then gave a short devotional. The officers then, accompanied by Boy Scout Troop 279 and firefighters from the Truro Township Fire Department, proceeded around the entire cemetery and decorated each of the graves of every veteran who had served this country with a small American flag in honor of Memorial Day (which originally was referred to as "Decoration Day"). The scouts each received a badge for their participation.
The honorary decoration is fitting for those departed veterans who have served this country.
The cemetery thus decorated stands on this national holiday as a local tribute those Americans who have faithfully served this country and who now rest with the Lord.
Flags that were not distributed today will be used to repeat the ceremony on Veteran's Day in November.
Past Post Commander Carl Bradley (l) and Post Sergeant-at-Arms Bob McPhereson (also the former Mayor of Reynoldsburg from 1987 to 2007) confer before the ceremony with Truro Township Superintendent Stan Knoderer (r).
The Silent Home cemetery flag, having waved staunchly through all kinds of Ohio weather in the last year over those at peace below, is ready to be relieved.
Members of Boy Scout Troop 279 assist in methodically combing the 9+ acres of the cemetery grounds to identify, honor, and decorate the graves of the fallen veterans at peace here.
After concluding the grave decoration event, the post officers take a minute to relax and converse. Left to right: Post Commander Tim Dunn; Past Post Commander Carl Bradley; Sergeant-at-Arms Bob McPherson.
The new flag flies proudly over the grounds, a reminder to all what this country stands for, and a silent tribute to those buried below - both those that served it bravely, and those for whom they served.
A heartfelt notice of thanks from the Township.