MADISON – In a sincere and patriotic gesture, Madison American Legion, Post 229 is coordinating efforts to decorate graves of veterans in local cemeteries.

Madison legionnaires and local volunteers gathered at Madison Memory Gardens on Nov. 10 to place American flags on veterans’ graves for Veterans Day. “The groups then fanned out to the three cemeteries: Madison Memory Gardens, Old Madison Cemetery and Faith Memorial Park,” Post Commander Larry Vannoy said.

Along with Post 229 members, volunteers from Boy Scout Troop 201, Girl Scout 926 and 21210, Cub Scout Pack 351, Junior ROTC from James Clemens High School and community volunteers participated.

“The annual Veterans Day flag placement was just one of a number of events supported by Post 229 associated with the Veterans Day time period, including the Huntsville visit of ‘The Wall That Heals,’ local school and church programs, luncheons, dinners and American Legion’s biannual poppy handouts at local area businesses,” Vannoy said.

Each year, the American Legion insures American flags are placed on the graves of veterans of all eras for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. They also arrange to place Christmas wreaths on veteran’s graves during the Christmas holidays.  

This year’s Veteran Day held special significance, Vannoy said. “100 hundred years ago, at eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, the guns fell silent ending World War One. Originally called ‘Armistice Day,’ it became known as Veterans Day in the United States.”

Additionally, the American Legion is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2018. World War I veterans originally formed the organization one century ago.

In other activities, the legion participated in a Court of Honor with Boy Scout Troop 201 at Monrovia Middle School. American Legion members will sponsor a float in the Madison Christmas Parade on Dec. 8. Their next regular meeting will be Dec. 13.

Post 229 will place Christmas wreathes on veterans’ graves in December and collect the decorations in January.

“We are getting a lot of interest in associated organizations being part of our activities,” Vannoy said. “In the last week, Sparkman ROTC, Young Marines, Raytheon Vets or RAYVETS and Troop have reached out to me.”

Madison American Legion, Post 229 holds its regular monthly meetings on second Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Lunar Masonic Lodge, 724 Eastview Drive in Madison. For more information, call 256-258-8534 or email Admin@AmericanLegionPost229.org.