Standing In

The Scouts in our area meet each Memorial Day weekend at Marietta National Cemetery to place flags on the graves of fallen service members. How the cemetery itself came to be has a touching story.

Civil War soldiers were being buried where they fell on the battlefield. A local man, Henry Green Cole, decided to donate over 23 acres of land to be used as a burial place for both Union and Confederate soldiers. His hopes were that the two sides could find some neutral ground here. Neither side would hear of it. The land donated by Cole was designated for Union soldiers while land donated a few miles away was designated for Confederate soldiers.

This is Georgia State Representative John Yates. He is a World War II survivor and spoke at the ceremony this morning. He has spent much of his political career fighting for the rights of veterans and survivors of those who have died. It was an honor to hear him tell his story. World War II vets are a fast dying breed.

Aaron is placing a flag by a grave.

After placing a flag, the Scouts would step back, pause and salute the flag and the grave.

I love this picture of Aaron and his best friend, Coleman.

Hannah placing a flag.

Rachel placing a flag.

Hannah's salute.

Aaron and a couple Scout buddies.

Rachel and Hannah with some Scouting friends.

My three favorite Scouts after placing flags.

As we were leaving Rachel commented that it was really sad that there were a lot of unknown graves whose families never knew what happened to them. Their families can't come to the grave site to honor and respect them because they have no idea where they are.

I paused by this particular unknown grave and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the specific life that was given. Some where at some point in our country's history a mother or wife never saw her child or husband again. She had no idea what happened. As a mom and Navy wife, I stood in to pay tribute to this particular person for the mom or wife who never had a chance.