American Legion Auxiliary places graveside flags ahead of Memorial Day

Elyse Apel
·2 min read
Members of the Hillsdale American Legion Auxiliary work to place flags at Lakeview Cemetery in Hillsdale this past week.
Members of the Hillsdale American Legion Auxiliary work to place flags at Lakeview Cemetery in Hillsdale this past week.

HILLSDALE — Over the past weekend, members of Hillsdale American Legion Auxiliary Unit 53 placed over 1,000 flags at Hillsdale cemeteries, honoring the graves of veterans.

Vicki Kime is an auxiliary member and one of the organizers for this project.

“It's very important to remember the men and women that have served their country,” Kime said. “There’s a lot of forgotten people. So we are out there making sure that all the veterans are recognized with a marker and a flag.”

The auxiliary does this annually around Memorial Day, replacing old flags placed at veterans’ graves with new ones.

Connie McDowell is currently president of the auxiliary but has been a member for over 25 years.

Hillsdale American Legion Post Commander Chris Parks reads the names of deceased veterans buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsdale while Past Commander Sid Michael looks on.
Hillsdale American Legion Post Commander Chris Parks reads the names of deceased veterans buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Hillsdale while Past Commander Sid Michael looks on.

“We have been participating in the flag event since before I was a member,” she said.

Auxiliary members, joined by a few Legion members, spend a day going to both Oak Grove and Lakeview cemeteries.

“We get together every year and meet at the cemetery and spend a day participating in this beautiful moment,” Kime said.

The old flags will be retired at a flag retirement ceremony hosted by Hillsdale American Legion Post 53 at 7 p.m. June 9.

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On Memorial Day, the Auxiliary and the Legion’s honor guard will visit both cemeteries again, as well as St. Paul’s Cemetery, to read the names of all the veterans buried in each cemetery. A lakeside memorial service will then be held at the Legion to remember those lost at sea.

Everybody is welcome to attend the ceremonies.

“This is significant because of what Memorial Day stands for,” said Kime. “We remember all those who served our country and we make sure that everybody is recognized for that.”

— Elyse Apel is a correspondent for The Hillsdale Daily News. She can be reached by email at ehawkins@hillsdale.edu.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: American Legion Auxiliary places graveside flags ahead of Memorial Day