SOUTHBOROUGH – The town began its annual observances of Memorial Day on May 24 by replacing the flags at Rural Cemetery and the Burial Ground.
Several members of the Southborough Police Department, along with dozens of Scouts, joined organizer Steve Whynot in swapping out nearly 900 old and torn flags at veterans’ graves.
“It’s really peaceful,”’ said Henry Gostick, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 1. “It’s a way to give respect.”
Ryan Boy, a junior at Algonquin Regional, knows Rural Cemetery well; for his Eagle Scout project, he cleared vegetation from nearly 400 ground-level cemetery markers.
“It’s just an opportunity to show your appreciation,” he said. “It’s a way to make the cemetery more presentable.”
Whynot, the commander for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3276, divided the volunteers into groups that received bundles of new flags. The groups then ventured to various parts of the cemetery to remove old and worn flags, and replace them with new flags.
The old flags will be brought to the post for proper disposal. A retirement ceremony is scheduled at the post on Cordaville Road for June 14, which is Flag Day.
The town held its traditional ceremonies on Monday, May 27, at Rural Cemetery, the Old Burial Ground, the Civil War monument and the All Wars Memorial near Town Hall.
