SAN ANGELO, TX - Yesterday afternoon at 2 p.m., around 1,000 volunteers gathered at the Fairmount Cemetery for the eighth year to plant flags for fallen war heroes. More than 1,500 American flags were planted on the grave stones of veterans buried across Fairmount Cemetery’s 52 acres.
Charles Westbrook, a member of Friends of Fairmount Cemetery (FFC), gave the orientation to help the volunteers get an understanding of how to make the flag planting go smoothly.
Westbrook has participated in the flag planting for what he explained as the past five, six, to seven years.
“I have never seen this many volunteers show up,” Westbrook announced as the group of volunteers cheered. “The veterans flag placement out here, the Flags-In Program, is a product of the FFC. It’s a non-profit organization that supports Fairmount Cemetery.”
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Of the 1,500 veterans buried in Fairmount Cemetery, they all range from different time periods.
“Veterans out here [are] representing military service as far back as the Texas revolution. We’ve got veterans of the army of the Republic of Texas. We cover every period from that forward,” Westbrook explained.
A special mention of Lt. Jack Mathis was given by Westbrook as well.
He said, “He was a recipient of the congressional medal of honor in World War II. He is up here in the northwest corner of the cemetery.”
Martha Visney has also participated every single year in this event, and, for the past three years, she has been the chairwoman.
Visney explained that “we owe a lot [to our veterans]. They give their lives for this country, and for each one of us. That is why we have the freedoms that we have. So, the least we can do is, as FFC, is to come and place flags in each one of those graves.”
Visney was greeted by many people throughout the beginning of the event. Many felt she has helped create a wonderful and patriotic event.
“The families [of these veterans], some may live out of town and come during the week to visit their loved ones. They tell us that they get so excited to see that there is a flag with their loved one,” Visney said. “That is the least we can do.”
FFC provided all the flags for the event yesterday. Visney reiterated that “those heroes who went before us, they did so much for us. So, this is the least we can do for them.”
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Thankfully, the rain subsided long enough for the event to be a huge success. But Visney was determined that, “rain or shine, [the veterans] gave their lives when it was raining and shining, with bullets and danger, [so] why not [us]? Even if it would have been pouring, we would have done it.”
The incoming President of the FFC Jenice Mazur said during the orientation, “I just want to thank everybody. This is amazing! The first year we did this, I think we had 10 people show up.”
Anne Reese and her grandchildren Reagan, 7, and Reese Trulove, 10, came to plant flags for the first time this year. Reagan explained that she was at the cemetery “because I wanted to put flag down and support all of the [veterans] who died.”
Reese said, “I am here to put flags on all of the gravestones of people who served in the army.”
Anne added, “We are here to honor all of our fallen soldiers through the years, and to introduce my grandchildren to the wonderful cemetery, and for them to remember how many people have [fallen for us].”
Next Friday, Nov. 11 at 11 p.m., a program will be held for Veterans Day. The Base Commander from Goodfellow Air Force Base will be the speaker; Police Chief Carter will be saying the pledge; and Mayor Dwain Morrison will be giving the invocation.
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