American flags planted at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in honor of fallen heroes
SUMTER, S.C. (WIS) - People joined Sumter VFW Chapter 3034 Saturday morning to place hundreds of flags at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery, honoring those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, and celebrating comrades’ dedication to service.
“I appreciate them doing that because these are our brothers,” Vietnam Veteran Ronald Walker said.
People started placing flags on gravestones around 8 a.m., leaving more than 1400 throughout Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetary. Sumter VFW Chapter 3034 has been carrying out the tradition on Memorial Day since they were founded in 1996.
“We started it way back when and we’ve been putting flags down ever since,” Chapter 3034 Commander Harry Bausman said, “It’s nice to have the comrades all come together, and they got a lot of stories to tell.”
Volunteers with Shaw Air Force Base also showed up to give these veterans the respect they’ve earned.
Ronald Walker and Terry Joyce were among the Vietnam veterans who were placing American flags. They say keeping the tradition year in and year out is a great way to educate the younger generations.
“it’s kind of like an insurance policy for us because we’re going to be the next ones that are here,” Joyce said, “Hopefully somebody will put a flag on ours when we’re gone.”
They all believe that this gesture serves as an important reminder of the cost of freedom, and the debt of gratitude we owe those who died in service to the nation.
“People don’t understand that this is a day for the people who have paid the ultimate price,” Joyce said, “It’s not about a mattress sale down at the mall, this is their day.”
The Sumter Veterans Association will be back again to place flags at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in 2025.
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