Peachland community members volunteer their time to place American flags at the graves of local Veterans on May 29.
Contributed Photo
Graciela Standt sweeps debris from Veterans graves to prepare for Memorial Day.
Contributed Photo
Peachland residents gather at the fire department to listen to Mark Greene play taps during the National Moment of Silence and Taps Across America.
Contributed Photo
PEACHLAND — Members of the Peachland Baptist Church and Peachland residents honored Veterans by placing flags on their graves at the Peachland Cemetery on May 29.
During the week leading up to Memorial Day, community members helped clean up the cemetery. Kathy and Ray Hasty picked up windblown litter along the edges of the cemetery and placed knocked over flowers or decorations upright.
Graciela Standt swept up grass from the Warriors markers, making it easily identifiable for family and friends who came to the cemetery over the weekend.
“It was quite touching and heartwarming to see parents, grandparents and great-grandparents modeling honorable behavior for the children,” Michael Letterman-Williams said in a a press release. “On this day, the adults didn’t just ‘tell’ the children how to live their lives and what freedom costs, they demonstrated to them by their actions, the importance of the sacrifices that our departed Warriors made, how those Warriors traded all of their tomorrows for our today, that freedom comes at a very high price and we should work hard to be worth of the sacrifices the Warriors made.”
On Memorial Day, there was an impromptu gathering at the Peachland Fire Station for the National Moment of Silence and #TapsAcrossAmerica. Mark Greene played taps and Vietnam Warrior Lonnie Thompson told of his and his family’s military service as well as the origin of the taps and Arlington Cemetery.
The National Moment of Remembrance, started in May of 2000, is an annual event in which Americans are asked to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m. to remember those who have died in military service. The time 3:00 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying time off from work for the national holiday, according to the Taps Across America website.
“Anyone that would like to participate in honoring our Warriors in the Peachland area should look for notices posted on the Facebook Group “What’s Up Peachland,” for upcoming events and opportunities to serve,” Letterman-Williams said. “We are so grateful for everyone that participated.”