Volunteers to Place Flags at Riverside Cemetery for Veterans Day

Flags will adorn the graves of veterans at Riverside National Cemetery this Veterans Day, thanks to the efforts of local union volunteers. Despite the ongoing U.S. government shutdown leading to the cancellation of the annual flag placement event organized by the nonprofit group Honoring Our Fallen, members of the Inland Empire union are determined to honor those who served.

On Saturday, November 8, 2023, over 300 volunteers from the Inland Local 951 and Local 909 chapters of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters will gather to place nearly 3,000 U.S. flags at veterans’ graves. This initiative, while smaller in scale compared to the usual 270,000 flags placed during the nonprofit’s events, reflects a strong commitment to ensure that “heroes are not forgotten at Riverside National Cemetery.”

The cancellation of the official flag placement event and the Veterans Day ceremony on Tuesday, November 11, 2023, was announced by Honoring Our Fallen. Officials cited “significant staffing reductions” and “logistical challenges,” which included limited access to facilities and issues with trash management and traffic control.

Alex Madrid, a representative of the union chapter, emphasized the importance of continuing this tradition. He noted that union members purchased their own flags to ensure the veterans receive the recognition they deserve. “We have members with family buried there, and a lot of our own members are buried there,” Madrid stated. “It means a lot to the organization to honor our veterans. We had a lot who were saying, ‘What could we do?’”

The flag placement tradition has been a collaboration between union carpenters, Boy and Girl Scout troops, churches, businesses, and various volunteer groups for many years. The event typically takes place just before Memorial Day and Veterans Day, featuring an honor guard ceremony alongside the flag placement.

Despite the logistical hurdles, the union volunteers are committed to ensuring that the flags are placed and removed respectfully. Madrid confirmed that the flags will be taken down on Wednesday, November 12, 2023.

In a statement from Local 951, the union emphasized that “when the government shuts down, service doesn’t stop.” The organization is demonstrating that patriotism and respect for fallen veterans remain a priority, regardless of external circumstances.

Riverside National Cemetery remains open from sunrise to sunset during the shutdown, allowing individuals to visit and honor veterans by placing their own flags as well. This community effort to remember those who served underscores the enduring spirit of remembrance and respect for military sacrifices.