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'Someday, you will have to carry on for us'

| 02 May 2018 | 11:35
    Photos by Roger Gavan Veteran Jim Culligan planted flags at Warwick Cemetery with the assistance of April Viggiani, her son Luca Carbillano and Andrew Finnerty (far right).
    Photos by Roger Gavan Veteran Jim Culligan planted flags at Warwick Cemetery with the assistance of April Viggiani, her son Luca Carbillano and Andrew Finnerty (far right).
    On Saturday, April 28, volunteers from Warwick’s American Legion Post 214 along with members of Boy Scout Troop 38 and Troop 45 placed over 1600 flags at the gravesites of local veterans.
    On Saturday, April 28, volunteers from Warwick’s American Legion Post 214 along with members of Boy Scout Troop 38 and Troop 45 placed over 1600 flags at the gravesites of local veterans.
    Troop 38 Scouts Dan Jackson (left) and Thomas Kanz helped veterans place flags at St. Stephen’s Cemetery.
    Troop 38 Scouts Dan Jackson (left) and Thomas Kanz helped veterans place flags at St. Stephen’s Cemetery.
    Patricia Rodrigues and her son Joey, a member of Troop 45, worked with veterans Warren Mc Farland (left) and Walter Parkinson. The grave site in the photograph is that of Civil War veteran Norman Sly.
    Patricia Rodrigues and her son Joey, a member of Troop 45, worked with veterans Warren Mc Farland (left) and Walter Parkinson. The grave site in the photograph is that of Civil War veteran Norman Sly.
    American Legion Post 214 Commander Laura Smykla chaired the operation for the Flag Placement Committee.
    American Legion Post 214 Commander Laura Smykla chaired the operation for the Flag Placement Committee.
    This memorial in Warwick Cemetery is dedicated to the Civil War 124th New York Regiment, Company D, known as "The Warwick Boys."
    This memorial in Warwick Cemetery is dedicated to the Civil War 124th New York Regiment, Company D, known as "The Warwick Boys."
    Helping the veterans place flags at Warwick Cemetery are Troop 45 Scout Matthew Kaytes and Troop Committee Chair Jay Domeseck.
    Helping the veterans place flags at Warwick Cemetery are Troop 45 Scout Matthew Kaytes and Troop Committee Chair Jay Domeseck.

WARWICK — Volunteers from Warwick's American Legion Post 214 along with members of Boy Scout Troop 38 and Troop 45 placed more than 1,600 flags at the grave sites of local veterans on Saturday, April 28.
To complete the task, the scouts from Troop 38 joined the veterans at St. Stephen's Cemetery while at the same time, other volunteers from Post 214 and Boy Scout Troop 45 met at Warwick Cemetery.
Each year flags are also placed at veterans' graves in many smaller and private cemeteries within the Town of Warwick. The annual operation is conducted in preparation for upcoming Memorial Day ceremonies, which this year will be on Monday, May 28.
American Legion Post 214 Commander Laura Smykla, assisted by Ed Hodas and Jerry Schacher, chaired the operation for the Flag Placement Committee. And a group of approximately 20 scouts and some parents and troop leaders served as volunteers.
During Memorial Day ceremonies in 2006, American Legion Post 214 Commander at that time, Walter Parkinson, mentioned the importance of placing flags on the graves of our veterans.
"You may have noticed," he told an audience of youngsters at that time, "we are old. Someday, you will have to carry on for us."
In response to that challenge, the members of local Boy Scout Troops offered to join the veterans in placing the flags.
And since that time, they have been present and willing each year to make sure that every veteran's grave in Warwick is identified by an American Flag.
If anyone knows of a veteran whose grave site at St. Stephen's Cemetery, Warwick Cemetery or any local cemetery did not receive a flag, they are asked to call American Legion Post 214 at 986-1290.
- Roger Gavan

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