Martha Maloney was at the Calvary and Mater Dolorosa Cemeteries in Greenfield when she spotted youth volunteers helping to install flags at the veterans’ graves and took these photos.
The Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans’ Services District, the local organization in Greenfield which provides services to veterans in the area, organized the flag installation. The goal is to have fresh flags on all of the military graves by Memorial Day weekend.
Tim Niejadlik, the director, connects with the youth service groups to let them know the flag work is beginning each spring. Cub Scout Pack 3, Scout Troop 5 and the Greenfield High School Student Council have been involved in this annual project for many years.
The previous year’s flags removed from the graves are disposed of by the Veterans Services according to proper procedure.
Maloney’s son, Ruari is on the Greenfield High School Student Council and a member of Troop 5. She is involved in the troop as an adult leader. “It’s good for the kids, but it’s also nice for those in the community to see that the kids are out there doing the work,” she said.