Vernon JROTC places flags on veterans’ graves in honor of Memorial Day

VERNON – Members of the Vernon JROTC program honored the memory of local veterans Friday, May 28, with a visit to the Vernon City Cemetery.

Cadets read “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, a poem which has become synonymous with Memorial Day commemoration through its theme of life and death, war and duty.

Cadets then removed old flags and placed a total of 75 new flags at veterans’ graves and spread the ashes of decommissioned flags from the organization’s recent flag retirement ceremony.

JROTC instructor Major Bill Chomos says the annual duty is taken seriously by each cadet.

“[The Memorial Day tradition] is a very important day as far as remembering the veterans,” said Chomos. “The students look forward to going to the cemetery and honoring the veterans, and they are very professional when they do it.”

Vernon JROTC travels to the cemetery for remembrance events three times a year, placing flags in commemoration of Memorial Day and Veterans Day and placing wreaths at Christmastime for National Wreaths Across America Day in coordination with wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemeteries.