Honor West Hartford's Fallen Veterans, What You Need To Know

WEST HARTFORD, CT — American democracy will be flexed on Tuesday next week, but the town is looking for volunteers Saturday to help honor those who served to ensure that exercise.

The Town of West Hartford said volunteers are needed to help place flags on veteran graves at Fairview Cemetery, 200 Whitman Ave., West Hartford, on Saturday, Nov. 5, at 8 a.m.

"Each year, West Hartford takes great pride in celebrating Veterans Day by remembering our veterans with a flag planting event and ceremony," wrote the town.

According to local officials, there are more than 1,200 military graves in Fairview Cemetery and volunteers are asked to assist the American Legion Hayes-Velhage Post 96 in placing flags to honor their service.

Volunteers are asked to assemble at the cemetery management area at 8 a.m. for instructions on the proper placement of flags and an assignment of a cemetery area.

Everyone is welcome and there is no need to RSVP. Folks and families can just show up.

To assist in placement of a flag, volunteers should bring a screwdriver to prepare a hole in the ground for the flag.

Anyone who has a relative or friend buried at Fairview Cemetery whose grave is not properly identified as that of a veteran should contact the cemetery office at 860-561-8136 so a flag can be placed there.

Long Tradition

Placing flags at veterans' graves has long been a local community tradition.

Veterans, residents and West Hartford scout troops have gathered at Fairview Cemetery to carry on this tradition initiated by the late Jean Paul Berard more than 40 years ago.

And, the tradition of placing flags at graves for Memorial Day and Veterans Day is recognized throughout our country.

For example, at Arlington Cemetery in Virginia, over 280,000 are placed at headstones to honor every individual buried there, said the Town of West Hartford.

Retired Flags

While new flags will go up at veteran's graves, old ones need to be properly collected as well.
Hayes-Velhage Post 96 will also be collecting any American flag that needs to be retired.

An American flag, when no longer in use, is retired at a ceremony where the flag is burned.
Flags will be collected there from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Veterans Day

Next week, the town will honor all veterans with a small Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11.

The American Legion Post No, 96 and the Town of West Hartford will hold a brief Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at the Connecticut Veterans Memorial, which is located on the corner of North Main Street and Farmington Avenue, West Hartford Center.

The keynote speaker is retired U.S. Naval Capt. James Caley.

If the weather is inclement, the ceremony will be relocated indoors at the West Hartford Town Hall auditorium, 50 S. Main St.