My in-laws were always great about visiting the local cemetery every year on "Decoration Day" to leave flags and flowers to honor those resting there. Unfortunately, we can't do the same for them. They are both buried at the National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts where flowers or flags are not allowed to decorate the grave markers.
Until this week....
My father in law, Charles Foley was a Sergeant in the army during the second world war.
Like my own father, once the war was over he preferred to move on to other things like raising a family and making a living and never spoke about his war experience. But, he did make his wishes known to be buried at the National Cemetery and when he passed in 2000 at the age of 82, that's where we laid him to rest.
Most days when you drive into the cemetery, the only American flag you see is the one that greets you at the end of the drive in a small clearing surrounded by stone memorials to various veteran's groups. Except for a couple of holidays like Memorial Day when the drive is lined with American flags, this one tall flag is one of the few you'll see flying among this sacred resting place. The vast acres of grave markers can hardly be seen from a distance since they are all flat stones embedded in the earth. Markers, flags and flowers are not allowed due to maintenance issues. The rules are understandable in that it would take a lot of manpower and hours to clear the area of such things to mow the acres of lawn every week. But even so, that didn't sit right with the father of a Medal of Honor recipient who is resting there. He wanted to see the American flag flying on his son's grave on Memorial Day, and every grave in the cemetery, to honor their service.
Due to his efforts, last Saturday 1500 volunteers placed 56,000 flags on the graves of every veteran and their dependents. That included the grave of my husband's parents.
We decided to make the drive up-Cape yesterday to visit them and to see the cemetery all decked out- not an easy trip on the Monday of a holiday weekend as the tourists are leaving Cape Cod by the droves traveling the same route. We knew it would be a special visit. We knew it would look different than the usual acres of blank green lawn. But I didn't expect to be so moved by the site of row upon endless row of thousands of American flags fluttering in the breeze. Each one marking an individual who sacrificed by giving their service to the country as well as those who sacrificed in being left behind to wait for them.
I happened to have my video camera with me and I put together a short movie that I initially just intended to share with my family members who I know miss my in-laws as much as I do and who I knew would want to share in the moment. But, as it got sent around through facebook and such, others told me how much they appreciated seeing it. So, here it is. The flags will remain for one week.But I know I'll still be seeing them each time I go there to visit Grace and Charlie.