Volunteers put flags on 500 veterans’ graves in Medina area

Group makes sure veterans recognized at Millville, West Shelby, Marshall Road and Bates Road cemeteries

Zach McAdoo, a volunteer from the community, places a flag on a veteran’s grave in Millville Cemetery on Saturday morning. McAdoo was one of a handful of community members who assisted the Lincoln Post VFW and Butts-Clark American Legion Post.

Jim Freas, standing at right, instructs Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and members of the VFW and American Legion in Medina on placing flags on veterans’ graves in local cemeteries.

MEDINA – Placing flags on veterans’ graves before Memorial Day has been a tradition for veterans’ groups in Medina for decades.

The only thing that has changed is that the number of veterans who turn out to volunteer is declining, said Dave Kusmierczak, a member of the Butts-Clark American Legion and Lincoln VFW posts in Medina.

As is customary, the veterans met at the VFW Post on East Center, along with members of Girl Scout Troop 82094, Cub Scout Pack 28, their leaders and parents and several community volunteers.

Jim Freas welcomed the group and explained the cemeteries they would be visiting. He said a handful of veterans last week had already placed flags on a dozen of small cemeteries located throughout the Medina area.

On Saturday, the volunteers went to Millville Cemetery, West Shelby, Marshall Road and Bates Road. In all, they estimate they placed more than 500 flags on veterans’ graves.

The flags will remain in the cemeteries until after Veterans’ Day in November, when the volunteers will return to retrieve them.

Veterans who placed flags on veteran’s graves in Millville Cemetery were, from left, Norm Slayer, a Korean War veteran, Steve Johnson, Dave Kusmierczak and Glen Whitmore, all members of the VFW and American Legion in Medina.

Tony Vicknair, a member of the VFW and American Legion in Medina was one of less than a dozen veterans who helped place flags on veterans’ graves Saturday morning.