Locals asked to honor those who served ahead of Memorial Day
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A man places U.S. flags on gravesites ahead of Memorial Day in 2021.
Submitted to the Daily News
Freedom comes at a cost. Veterans have paid the price by their willingness to sacrifice their lives for our great Nation. Memorial Day, May 29 this year, is a day to honor our nation’s dead that have honorably served.
Annually, since 2017, individuals, civic leagues and patriotic organizations have assisted Johnson-Overturf Funeral Homes in saluting our fallen Putnam County Heroes. The week preceding, and the week after Memorial Day, we place American flags on the graves of our veterans to honor their service. This year, we have added additional cemeteries and we anticipate placing up to 4500 flags.
We will meet and place the flags on the dates and times listed below. The flags will remain in place until the week following Memorial Day, then removed, cleaned and stored for reuse. Flags found in disrepair will be properly disposed of in accordance with federal regulations.
The following is a list of meeting dates and times:
• 9 a.m. Monday: Pineview Cemetery in Interlachen (Meet at Johnson-Overturf Gate) in Interlachen. Refreshments provided by the Women on Mission of the First Baptist Church Interlachen, immediately following completion.
• 9 a.m. Tuesday: Oak Hill East/West Cemetery in Palatka (Meet at the American Legion Flag Pole). Assemble for a photo beginning at 9 a.m. at the old Drive Inn projection booth in Oak Hill West.
• 12 p.m. Tuesday: Westview Cemetery
• 9 a.m. Wednesday: Eden Cemetery (Meet at the Main Gate). Upon completion, proceed to Lake Como-Pomona Park Cemetery, then Georgetown Cemetery
• 12 p.m. Wednesday: Welaka Cemetery
• 9 a.m., Thursday: Etoniah Cemetery in Bardin
• 12 p.m. Thursday: Bostwick Cemetery in Bostwick
• 9 a.m. Friday: Pattersonville Cemetery in East Palatka
• 12 p.m. Friday: San Mateo Cemetery in East Palatka and then Rest Haven Cemetery on Old San Mateo and Live Oak Rd.
Anyone can participate in this annual event. Scout volunteers, VFW, American Legion, Civic Organizations, PCSO and churches are encouraged to assist. Call 386-538-6376.
Ricky Bybee will be at each event and brief everyone on uniform placement of the flags according to U.S. flag placement guidelines. Prayer of gratitude and thanks will be offered before each event. There may be activities associated with each event that will be posted as we near Memorial Day weekend.
We will remove flags the week of June 5. Please call the number above and indicate if you would like to help remove them and store them for reuse.
— Ricky E. Bybee, Associate Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church, Johnson-Overturf Funeral Homes