American flags go up at cemetery in observance of Memorial Day

Dozens of volunteers descended on Hillcrest Cemetery on Friday, May 27 to place flags on the graves of U.S. military veterans in observance of Memorial Day.

 Approximately 400 flags were placed on gravesites along with 50 more that were raised on flagpoles.

 “I’m from Weiser and I’m back for the summer from the University of Idaho,” said Caden Cramer who was among approximately 45 volunteers to help with the process. “I just thought that this is a great cause, that these veterans should get recognition for their service to our country.”

 Weiser Elks Lodge 1683 has organized the event for well over a decade, recruiting organizations such as Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps and the local Washington County 4-H to help out.

 “This is part of our 4-H community service,” said Katie Janssen, who was on hand with her son Carsen, 12. “We also have been wanting to come out and do this every year, so here we are.”

 “The Elks has been doing this for 15 years,” said the Elks’ Quincy Walla who is the son of a veteran. “The VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) used to do this but when their chapter closed here in Weiser, they asked if the Elks would take over. So, we did, and we’ve been doing it ever since.”

 Matt Smith, who was inducted into the Weiser Elks organization on Wednesday, May 25, said he was thrilled when he learned of Friday’s event.

 “I recently moved here from Indiana to be closer to my son,” he said. “At my job in Indiana, they always called me the flag guy because I was always real conscientious about the flag.” 

    Smith’s son, Andrew, is a pilot in the Air National Guard. He flies KC-135 refueling tankers and is also a pilot for UPS. 

   “He’s been on three deployments,” Smith said of his son. 

  Volunteers were treated to a barbecue following placement of the flags, which took about two hours to complete.