Memorial Day weekend tradition continues at Bloomington cemeteries, thanks to VFW Post 454

Posted on May 28, 2021
The flags will be collected on Tuesday, to be used for another year. (Photo courtesy: Heart of Illinois ABC)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

BLOOMINGTON – A Memorial Day weekend tradition continuing Thursday in Bloomington.

Members of the VFW Post 454 set out before the afternoon rain to place American flags at the graves of our local veterans who died in the line of duty.

Volunteers stopped by East Lawn Memorial Gardens, St. Mary’s, St. Joseph, East Twin Grove, and Park Hill Cemetery.

Quartermaster Jim Waters says it’s a responsibility they take seriously.

“It’s upon us, the survivors today, to make sure the present generation and future generation do not forget the sacrifices that people made to enjoy freedoms that we have today,” said Waters.

The flags will be collected on Tuesday, to be used for another year.

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]. 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…