Volunteers place flags to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day

May 19--The pandemic couldn't stop volunteers from honoring the military ahead of Memorial Day.

There they were Saturday night, firefighters and their families clutching maps and the American flags handed to them by the Hazleton American Legion Post 76.

Just as they've done in years past, out in the fresh air, they searched for the final resting places of the Hazleton area's bravest -- heroes honoring heroes in the serene quiet of a cemetery.

Though the details of their first mission aren't so easy to remember, it was about 9 years ago in May when Hazleton City firefighters went out to Cemetery Road, off Route 93 in the Terrace section, finding two to three members of the Legion placing flags on veterans' graves alone, said Fire Chief Donald Leshko.

Firefighters were there for an unrelated incident but asked if the Legion members needed help.

Back then the firefighters on duty that day worked for three hours until every veteran had a flag, said the chief.

But, every year since, more and more firefighters have helped out at more than a dozen cemeteries in the Hazleton area.

This year they had so many volunteers that it only took an hour to place flags at over 1,500 grave sites at Queen of Heaven Parish, Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Holy Trinity and a host of others on Cemetery Road and Ellie Lane.

"We had that many people to help," said Leshko, who hopes the tradition continues.

Traditionally, the flags are placed at every veteran's grave ahead of Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor those who died in active duty, and are taken down in October before winter weather strikes.

In years past, firefighters from Hazle Twp. Fire and Rescue have helped out and this year West Hazleton joined in the mission.

"It was our pleasure to be there," said West Hazleton Fire Chief Rick Sparks on Monday afternoon ahead of another mission to place flags at a local cemetery.

"You got to remember this isn't for us, this isn't about us, this is for our veterans. We're doing this for them," said Sparks.

Other groups, including the Boy Scouts of America and the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, historically pitch in at other local cemeteries.

The volunteers felt it was something they needed to continue to do, in spite of the new coronavirus presenting a challenge just about everywhere and cancelling Memorial Day parades and gatherings.

Leshko said the volunteers protect and serve side by side for hours each day throughout the pandemic, and continuing the project also gave them a sense of normalcy.

Veterans never turned their backs on the country and so the volunteers couldn't turn their backs on them with their annual gesture.

"They fought for our country," Leshko said.

And, while placing flags is a tradition for local firefighters, this year it also gave them some hope, and showed that Greater Hazleton is one community that works together, said Leshko.

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achristman@standardspeaker

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