Write a commentIn commemoration of this year’s 100th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice ending WWI and to honor those from our city and surrounding communities who fought and served during that war, the Oswego County Veterans Council is adding a special touch for the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday weekend at local cemeteries.
In addition to recognizing all veterans buried in local cemeteries during the Memorial Day weekend, as a gesture of remembrance of our WWI veterans, local veteran organizations and civic groups will place an artificial poppy attached to a U.S. Flag at the grave stones of known WWI veterans. The poppy is the “flower of remembrance” for WWI and was made famous in the poem, “In Flanders Fields”, by Dr. John McCrae, Lt. Colonel of the Canadian Army in 1915.
“While we honor all veterans, this added gesture will also provide visitors at our local cemeteries the opportunity to pay their respects to those who served and sacrificed during the Great War, 100 years ago,” said Anthony Millich, Commander of Oswego’s American Legion, Post 268.
The organizations involved in decorating the grave sites in Oswego’s cemeteries include: Oswego Veterans Council, American Legion Post 268, VFW Post 5885, Oswego Elks Club, and Ft. Ontario.
The Fulton Veterans Council and its affiliated veteran and community groups have also made plans to decorate the grave sites at local cemeteries of WWI veterans in their city and local communities with artificial poppies attached to U.S. flags as well.
