The following article appeared in the Times Union on May 3, as part of the “Duty Calls” column written by Terry Brown.
Scores of volunteers are ready for a “Flags In” Memorial Day mission.
But the volunteers from the Joint Veterans Committee — a group that includes Tri-County Council of Vietnam Era Veterans, Capt. William Dale O’Brien Marine Corps League Detachment, Battlefield & Beyond and the Albany County Chapter of Gold Star Mothers — need 18,000 American flags for that mission.
They are working together to ensure flags are placed on veterans’ graves at 28 cemeteries in Albany County on time for a “Flags In” ceremony on Memorial Day on Monday, May 25.
“Please help us with this very important event,” said Mark Rosenzweig, chairman of the joint Veterans Committee, William F. Wigand VFW Post, Albany. “We need to make sure no veteran’s grave in Albany County is left behind this Memorial Day. Due to the impact of COVID-19, we are forced to seek community funding for the flags for our veterans.”
In the past, the committee has received funding from various sources, including the City of Albany, to cover the cost of the more than 18,000 flags, Rosenzweig said, With the financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 shutdown, the committee is left to raise the money necessary to purchase the flags for the graves. So the group is asking the community to help by sponsoring a flag or flags for the graves to honor our veterans who are buried in Albany County.
The suggested flag sponsorship is $1 for each flag. Businesses and organizations can get involved by sponsoring a cemetery. Checks can be sent to the Joint Veterans Committee, William F. Wigand VFW Post, 370 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12206.
“Memorial Day is a difficult day for so many of us in the Capital Region,” said Carrie Farley, a member of the Albany County Chapter of American Gold Star Mothers [and an employee of Hudson Valley Community College]. “As a Gold Star Mother, seeing an American flag marking your hero’s service when visiting on Memorial Day warms your heart. I am both proud and excited about working on the sponsorship drive for this year’s ‘Flags In’ ceremony in Albany County.”
For information, please contact Mark Rosenzweig at (518) 701-6647 or Joe Pollicino at (518) 360-5754.
“This year is different than previous years, with everyone struggling due to the shutdown,” he adds. “It is important for us to continue to honor and respect our veterans who are buried in cemeteries in Albany County,” said Rosenzweig.
In previous years, proceeds from poppy sales helped fund purchase of flags. Because of the pandemic, volunteers were not able to hit the streets to sell poppies.
“We felt the tradition of ‘Flags In’ is so important we could not allow it to be forgotten this year,” said Joe Pollicino, Tri- County Council Vietnam Era Veterans president. “By asking the community to sponsor a flag or flags, we will be able to order the needed flags and make sure our veterans receive the honor and respect they deserve. Without the help of the community, we will not be able to honor our veterans this year with the placement of an American flag on their grave.”
Published: Tue, 05 May 2020 11:45:39 +0000 by d.gardner