Breckenridge Texan

Volunteers are needed next Saturday, May 25, to help place American flags on the graves of U.S. Military veterans buried in the Breckenridge Cemetery.

Retired U.S. Navy veteran Jim Merson and Les Strickland, the Stephens County Veterans Service Officer and a retired U.S. Marine, will be at the cemetery at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 25, to put out the flags for the Memorial Day weekend. Merson has been heading up the project for more than 10 years, and through the years, Strickland and his wife, Sherry, have often showed up as volunteers.

There are about 900 veterans buried in the Breckenridge Cemetery, and most years 20 or more volunteers gather to help place a flag on each of their graves to honor their service to the country. The project takes about 60 to 90 minutes, depending on how many volunteers show up, Merson said. Then, on Tuesday, Strickland and Merson will be back at the cemetery to remove the flags to be used again next year, and they’ll appreciate any volunteer help then, as well.

Recent rains may make the ground a little softer this year, but many times, the ground at the cemetery is dry, making it a little difficult to post the flags in the ground. Merson has steel “hole punchers” fashioned from rebar that — with a little effort — can make a place for the wooden flag sticks to go. Experienced volunteers often bring their own cordless power tools to actually drill holes into the soil.

To assist with the project, just show up at the Breckenridge Cemetery, 1301 E. Elliott St., at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 25. The two retired U.S. military veterans will be happy to have your help.

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge Scout leader Matt Wunsch, center, chats with Arthur and Linda Estrada on May 27, 2023, as they all volunteered to place flags on the graves of veterans buried in the Breckenridge Cemetery. The annual projects honors the veterans for Memorial Day. (Photo by Nathalie Wilhite)