Lufkin holds cemetery flag display for Memorial Day

LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - Throughout this weekend, many different groups are coming together to honor and remember fallen soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Lufkin VFW, Pineywoods Jeep People and independent groups all came together to place flags on veterans’ graves at Garden of Memories Memorial Park in Lufkin.

Ashley Bratton, commander for the Lufkin VFW, said doing this act is important to them.

“That’s just the way we have to continue to honor our fallen veterans. There are veterans here that did not make it home from war, and in honor of Memorial Day, we are specifically acknowledging and their sacrifice,” Bratton said.

An American flag is placed at the top left side of the veteran’s headstone. Bratton said the flag represents the freedom they sacrificed their life for.

“I think it just harkens to the sacrifices that veterans have made from before our founding, in support of the flag and everything that that flag stood for: liberty, freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of religion -- just freedom in general,” Bratton said.

James Slack is a Vietnam veteran. He served as a captain of the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps. He and a group of other Vietnam veterans came to help place flags as well.

“I guess with age, you realize how precious life is, and we realize how much many of these men gave up for this country. Those of us who survived appreciate that and realize we have been very blessed not only to be in this country but to have survived and be able to give back to those that didn’t,” Slack said.

Dwayne Greenwood with Pineywoods Jeep People also came out to help. He said they wanted to give back.

“We are honored and blessed to get to do what we do. I mean, there are multiple veterans in the group itself, and so when we get an opportunity, especially with veterans, we jump on the opportunity. We are proud to get to do this. We’re honored to get to do this,” Greenwood said.

Bratton said there was a lot of community involvement today.

“Other organizations, other people that are willing to say, ‘It is important to take the time out of our busy schedules to honor our veterans and honor Memorial Day and to take the time to recognize and remember their sacrifices,’” Bratton said.

The Lufkin VFW will be holding a Memorial Day ceremony Monday at 11:30 a.m. at their post.

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