PEABODY — The city kicked off its 2021 Memorial Day observances Saturday with the annual flagging of veterans’ graves at city cemeteries.
Flagging – which involves placing American flags on veterans’ graves – is a longstanding tradition to preserve and honor the memory of deceased military members who have served their country honorably. American flags are placed on the left side of veterans’ graves in respect of their dignity.
“It’s an extremely solemn but nonetheless gratifying day to see so many veterans come out and honor their fellow veterans year after year,” said Peabody Veterans Services Director Steve Patten. “All these deceased veterans who gave service to their country and died want to be remembered and appreciated. To see our aging veterans do this in their honor is inspiring and emotional.”
Approximately 30 people representing 10 local veterans groups participated, canvassing approximately 30 Peabody cemeteries and placing more than 5,000 flags in the ground. Nearly 3,500 flags alone were placed at Cedar Grove Cemetery, St. Mary’s Cemetery, Harmony Grove Cemetery and Oak Grove Cemetery.
Patten said the Peabody Historical Society and Museum, under the direction of former Mayor Michael Bonfanti, handled most of the small-cemetery flagging. The Jewish War Veterans flagged another 10 cemeteries. The other nine veterans groups – which include the American Legion, the Portugese-American War Veterans, the Polish Legion of American Veterans, the Fleet Reserve Association, the Marine Corps League, the Yankee Division, the Second Corps of Cadets, the Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars – placed flags at Cedar Grove, Harmony Grove, St. Mary’s and Oak Grove.
Patten said the city isn’t done planting flags yet and has plans to plant flags at Puritan Lawn Cemetery on May 29.
“We’ve been flagging for decades, long before I’ve been around, but up until a few years ago we only planted flags at city cemeteries, not private ones, so we never did anything at Puritan Lawn,” Patten said. “That’s a massive place both in terms of the number of graves and the space, so we’ll need a good number of volunteers for that.”
Patten said he expects to enlist the services of the Boys Scouts and members of the high school National Honor Society again this year. He expects that 3,000 flags will be planted.
“The high school kids like to come out and get some community service, so we hope to rely on everyone again this year to scatter in all directions,” Patten said.
With the exception of Puritan Lawn, the flags will remain in place through Veterans Day.
“We need to remove them immediately so they can mow and perform other necessary maintenance,” said Patten, a Bronze Star recipient who served two tours of duty totalling 18 months in Afghanistan with the the 11th Brigade Combat Division, 82nd Airborne Division.
The flagging comes on the heels of the installation of a new World War II memorial at City Hall. The memorial had been destroyed in November when strong winds toppled the city’s Christmas tree, which landed on top of the memorial, smashing it into multiple pieces.
“It’s been a good week for veterans between planting all of their flags to remember their fallen comrades and the new bell being installed, so they are ready to go on Memorial Day,” Patten said. “These veterans are so tough, nothing stops them. Saturday, they were hot and tired. Their backs and arms hurt but they were relentless even though they are out there for five to six hours. It’s truly inspirational.”
Peabody’s Memorial Day observance begins at 10 a.m. with a service at Cedar Grove Cemetery. A service at City Hall follows at 11:30.
An online video, written and produced by Elizabeth Germino and narrated by Isabelle Germino, provides additional information about the Memorial Day flagging tradition in Peabody. To view the video, go to https://www.peabody-ma.gov/veterans%20services.html.
Anne Marie Tobin can be reached at [email protected].
