Volunteers plant 1,200 flags at Clearfield Co. cemetery ahead of Memorial Day

CLEARFIELD CO., Pa. (WJAC) — A Clearfield County cemetery honored United States veterans today by planting the stars and stripes in front of veterans' graves.

About 50 volunteers came out to Styers Cemetery to plant around 1,200 U.S. flags.

Veterans Affairs Director for Clearfield County, Betina Nicklas, told 6 News on Saturday the cemetery recently came under new ownership. She said the former owner "was unfamiliar" with Memorial Day traditions, adding they were "unaware that flags needed to be placed" in front of tombstones, for the revered holiday.

This prompted Nicklas and others in the community to organize an effort to plant the red, white, and blue in front of the graves.

"It's just great to see how the community has come out. And just, you know, on Memorial Day, if not, you know, periodically throughout the year...just take a moment — to a number of our veterans that are currently deployed," Nicklas said. "Take a moment to thank a veteran. If you see them, just to remind them that we still do appreciate them. And we do, we do honor and respect what they do."

Nicklas told us there will be a 10:30am Memorial Day service at Styers Cemetery.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRfq7ytwc2tnJ6qo2K9ra3NrWRqamBleqe4wKCqZpmkYrCtscCrnaKdnJl6pLuMnJymnaSav7p5wKGcmpxdpLNuucSmpquhkaF6pa3Y