Arlington Memorial Day 2018 Ceremonies

ARLINGTON, MA – The following is an announcement from the town of Arlington.

Volunteers Sought For Placing Flags on Veteran Graves May 5 and 12
Arlington residents are invited to assist in placing flags on the graves of our veterans in preparation for
Memorial Day. On Saturday May 5th and Saturday May 12th, the Director of Veterans' Services is
seeking community volunteers to participate in placing flags on the graves of our veterans at Mt. Pleasant
Cemetery. Both events will run from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., and these events will take place regardless of
the weather. We will meet at the cemetery office at 9:45 a.m. for an informational brief and sign-in.

Improvements to Flags on Graves Program
Volunteers will be able to more easily locate veteran graves due to recent improvements to the Flags on
Graves Program, which placed special US Veteran decals at each veterans’ headstone. A GPS unit and
tablet was used to map more than 4,500 veterans’ plot locations, including the plot number, cemetery
section, and name. The collected data was cross-referenced with cemetery records to create a
comprehensive digital database. A collaboration between The Director of Veterans' Services, Jeff
Chunglo and Director of GIS/Systems Analyst, Adam Kurowski, this project improves efficiency, provides
easier access to these records, and allows residents to participate in this meaningful community service
event. Veteran status is also included in the Town’s online cemetery search tool at
arlingtonma.gov/cemetery.

May 28 Memorial Day Events
9:30 a.m. Memorial Day Ceremony at Town Hall (doors at 9:00am)
This year’s keynote speaker Marine Corps Lt. Col. Michael Strobl. Lt. Col. Strobl escorted a fallen Marine to
his hometown in Wyoming for his internment, which the film Taking Chance is based on. Immediately
following the official ceremony, there will be wreath laying ceremonies for veteran burial lots at Mt.
Pleasant Cemetery.

2:00 p.m. Free Screening of Taking Chance
A special free screening of Taking Chance, which will include a Q&A with Lt. Col. Strobl. Regent Theater, 7
Medford Street.

Image via Shutterstock