Volunteers honor veterans at Gainesville cemetery

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) — More than a thousand veterans were honored in Gainesville Saturday through a Memorial Day tradition.

Volunteers at Evergreen Cemetery placed flags on the graves of veterans laid to rest there.

From young children to grandparents, volunteers of all ages came together Saturday morning with one goal in mind — honoring those who served the country.

Organizers say more than 1,100 veterans are buried at Evergreen Cemetery, making events like this an important way to remember their sacrifice.

Young volunteers say it is important to show up for people and be a part of community work like this because not everyone in those graves has someone living who can honor them.

“Some families either can’t come and like fix up the graves and stuff so we just put flags out in front of the graves to show and to remember them because of their lives not necessarily that they died but that they honored our country,” said Cora, a student volunteer.

Rows of red, white and blue filled Evergreen Cemetery Saturday morning as volunteers honored veterans ahead of Memorial Day.

Organizers provided flags and maps while families, friends and community members spread out across the 56-acre cemetery to make sure every veteran’s grave was recognized.

“It’s just heartwarming you look out there and there’s just people all smiling and happy that they’re here to support our veterans. We had probably 150 to 200 people here today was great,” said Karen Pruss, Evergreen Cemetery coordinator.

Organizers say the event not only honors those who served but also helps teach younger generations the true meaning of Memorial Day.

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