McCann Students Gather Veterans' Memorial Flags
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – McCann Technical School students helped gather more than 2,000 retired flags from veterans' graves for a flag-burning ceremony.
American Legion member and retired McCann teacher William Schrade guided 18 students through Southview Cemetery on Monday afternoon during a community flag-gathering project.
"There is roughly about 2,000 flags in here," Schrade said. "From here we go to St. Joe's cemetery across the street, then we do the one on West Main Street, the one in Blackinton, and then the Jewish cemetery."
Students made passes through the rows of stones with fistfuls of flags that they tossed into a truck for a ceremonial burning at the American Legion.
Schrade said the students help gather the flags every year and they always enjoy giving back to those who have served their country. He added that they often learn a few things going through the cemeteries and connect to members of their community who have passed.
"They walk around and, it is inevitable, every time we do this they will say they never heard of a name before," he said. "They will stop and read them, especially the older stones. There is a lot of education."
McCann computer-assisted drawing instructor and SkillsUSA adviser Thomas Tinney helped transport the students around the cemetery and said the project is a good way for students to give back to the community.
"It's a little community service project we do," Tinney said. "It is a great way for them to give back to the community."
Schrade said the pickup goes pretty smoothly and usually does not take longer than an hour. He said in the spring, the students will come back and place new flags in the veteran flag markers.
Tags: american flag, cemetery, flags, veterans,
