American Legion to place flags on veterans’ graves
Madison American Legion, Post 229 will place flags on veterans’ graves for Memorial Day. Post 229 Legionnaires Michael Marcel, from left, Earl Watts, along with Cody Marcel, placed flags in 2015. CONTRIBUTED
MADISON – In observance of Memorial Day, Madison American Legion, Post 229 will place flags on veterans’ graves in three Madison cemeteries. Legion members are requesting volunteers to assist with this solemn task.
Legionnaires will place flags on May 21. “We will meet at Madison Memory Garden parking lot on Hughes Road at 9 a.m. Following a short briefing by post members, we’ll divide into three teams for placing flags at each cemetery,” post commander Carlos Woods said.
Veterans and volunteers will place flags at Madison Memory Garden, Hughes Road just north of City Hall; Faith Memorial Park, Madison Boulevard; and Madison Cemetery on Mill Road, just west of City Hall.
“Post 229 needs support from individuals, church groups, Scout packs and ROTC squadrons from the Madison area to accomplish this task,” Woods said. “The placing of flags is the start of our annual honoring of our veterans. The work will only take about two hours.”
The legionnaires consider this project as the start of Memorial Day activities in Madison, which will culminate on May 30 with ceremonies at the Wall of Heroes Monument in Jessie Ollie Wikle Jr. Veterans Memorial Park on Front Street in downtown Madison at 11 a.m.
Post 229 in Madison pursues several projects throughout the year. The legionnaires present ROTC scholarship awards to Bob Jones, James Clemens and Sparkman high schools. They support local oratorical contests and honor a Madison police officer and firefighter of the year.
In addition, Madison legionnaires support local veterans financially in times of need, and they sponsor youth to attend Boys State.
Currently, Post 229 meets at Madison Senior Center monthly on second Thursdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Approximately 220 people are on the membership roster. About 50 ‘active’ legionnaires attend meetings and work at events.
For more information, points of contact are Woods at 256-508-6548 or email woodscarlos12@gmail.com and Bill McGahey at 805-588-9016 or email judymcgahey@hotmail.com.
