Flags for often forgotten veterans decorate rural cemeteries

MADISON COUNTY, Ky (WTVQ)-Combs, Parsons & Collins Funeral Director Spencer Guiley visits rural cemeteries often in his line of work. Over the years he’s noticed many veterans left without a flag on Memorial Day.

He says, “I mean Richmond Cemetery and Madison Memorial Gardens, of course, are large and they’re taken care of by local veterans groups. But that’s why we are trying to focus on the more rural, local cemeteries that may have been forgotten otherwise.”

Last year he and a handful of friends put out about 300 flags across 22 cemeteries, now he’s got a couple dozen helpers who’ve put out five hundred.

Madison County Historical Properties Director Phillip Seyfrit says, “So far we have marked two Kentucky governors, a general of the Army, numerous enlisted men, a United States representative, United States Senator, both union and confederate soldiers, and they’re everywhere.”

And for one volunteer it’s personal.

Madison County resident William Noble says,”Actually this is my first year doing the flags and I feel pretty honored because I have a father and an uncle buried here. Actually my father is buried right here behind us. My uncle is on down the way he was in World War II. My father was in the Korean War.”

But for many veterans buried in rural cemeteries, like Flatwoods or College Hill, there’s no one left to pay tribute.

Seyfrit says, “Sometimes families die out and there’s no one to come back and remember ’em. But we will because we feel that this is making a difference.”

Guiley says, “They all served whether they died in active duty or died later and they all deserve the same honor as someone buried in Arlington National Cemetery.”

The group is on track to put out a total of 744 flags, mostly paid for by private donations. Guiley says he wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help from the community.

There are approximately 344 rural cemeteries in Madison County. The group is hoping to get to as many cemeteries as they can before Memorial Day. If you’d like to donate or participate next year, you can find more information on the group’s Facebook page.