Scouts, vets put 2,000 flags on soldiers’ graves in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Lucas Webb, 7, places an American flag on the grave of a veteran at Mount Albion Cemetery this morning. Lucas and other Cub Scouts in Pack 164 and Boy Scouts in Troop 164 placed about 2,000 flags today at Mount Albion and then at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
These Scouts enjoyed the time together placing flags at Mount Albion. From left include Mason Patten, Peter Stritzinger, Owen Monaghan and Colton Durow.
The scouts in Albion have helped the local American Legion and VFW with the task before Memorial Day for many years.
Leo Gotte, 11, places flags by graves at St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Route 31 after the group finished at Mount Albion.
Colson Braley, 13, has helped with the flag placing for several years now. He is shown at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.
Lincoln Metcalf, 6, and his mother Melissa Metcalf helped set flags for veterans today. They are joined by their dog, Hazel. Lincoln’s dad Ben Metcalf is the cubmaster for Pack 164.
Matt Passarell, quarter master for the VFW, places a flag at St. Joseph’s. He said the VFW and American Legion purchased 2,400 flags to set at soldiers’ graves in central Orleans County. The veterans’ groups will place flags for veterans at other smaller cemeteries in central Orleans before Memorial Day on May 27.
The Legion and VFW invite the community to the Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m., starting on Main Street near Park Street. The procession then goes to the middle school where there will be a ceremony outside the school on the front lawn by the monument.
Dan Flanagan, the scoutmaster for Troop 164, looks for graves with veterans’ markers at Mount Albion. Flanagan has been an adult volunteer with the troop for 14 years. Seven of his children have been in scouting.