Decoration of Graves Prior to Memorial Day

What is Flags on Graves?

The “Flags on Graves” service project is a favorite with Troop 22. Each year, the Saturday before Memorial Day, Boy and Girl Scouts from all over the Los Angeles area gather at the National Veterans Cemetery in Westwood to decorate the graves of the Veterans. There is an opening ceremony with moving Memorial Day speeches and then in an amazingly fast time the entire cemetery is decorated with small American flags. Each Scout solemnly reads the gravestone of the veteran, gives a full Scout salute, and then places the flag properly in the ground beside the marker. If you have never attended this event, you should consider going. It gives each of us the true sense of what Memorial Day is all about before we head off to family barbeques or the beach. If you've driven over the hill, you've seen the thousands of white marble headstones stretching for acres in this veterans cemetery visible from the 405 Freeway in West L.A. Drive by and you'll see a sight that'll take your breath away -- 84,000 American flags at every one of those grave sites.

The Western Las Angeles County Council website has more information on this memorable event.

The History Behind Memorial Day
No one really knows who first began celebrating Memorial Day or what town it originated in. The organized mourning and celebration of fallen war heroes seems to have begun during the Civil War when so many of America’s young men died on their own soil. War widows often gathered together to grieve, sing, and support each other. General John Logan officially decreed a Memorial Day holiday on May 30th, 1868 and led a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. New York recognized Memorial Day as an official state holiday in 1873 and by 1890 it was recognized by all of the Northern States. At this time, though, Memorial Day was still a holiday to honor those who died in the Civil War, so the Southern states observed the holiday separately. But after World War I, Memorial Day became a holiday to remember all fallen soldiers and now almost every state in the union recognizes the holiday (though many Southern states still have separate days to observe the Civil War).

Click here for a map

Outing Details 2008 May 24

Activity: Memorial Day Flag Placement
When: Saturday, May 24, 2008
Location: Los Angeles National Cemetery 950 South Sepulveda Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90049
We will leave Prince of Peace at 6:30 am SHARP!
Parents are asked to join us.
You must be in FULL uniform: pants, shirt, socks, neckerchief, slide and hat!
This service project is a solemn occasion please come prepared to be respectful
Permission Slip (Word Document, -pdf file)