Funeral Home provides flags for veterans’ graves

By Jason Norman

Between all veterans, there’s a bond.

Whether they served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or even during peacetime, whether they were in the army, navy, marines, air force, or other branch of the military, all those who have enlisted know that they will always share a love for the country.

Thanks to Harrell and Hill Funeral Home, these veterans can still share the bond even after they pass away. For the past month, the funeral home has been handing out small American flags to be planted at the graves of fallen veterans.

&uot;We belong to a corporation, and they came up with some things we should practice,&uot; said location manager Robert Brinkley. &uot;I chose to do that one, because I’m a Vietnam veteran. Veteran’s graves should be marked with a flag to signify who they were. Even if they weren’t killed in the line of duty, it signifies that they fought for our country and for freedom. We’ll probably do it again for Veteran’s Day in November.&uot;

Brinkley is a past commander of the American Legion, which will sponsor its annual veteran’s memorial service at 11 a.m. Monday at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

When she goes out to the Albert Horton State Veteran’s Cemetery off Lake Prince Road to visit her husband James, Doris Daughtrey sees the bond’s strength firsthand; nearly all of the graves in the her husband’s section are adorned with the flags.

&uot;I saw one of the ladies (from Harrell and Hill) at the grocery store, and they told me to get a flag and bring it out to the cemetery,&uot; said Daughtrey, whose husband, known to most as Buck, a Korean War veteran, died in December. &uot;I feel like it’s a memorial to all veterans,&uot; she said. &uot;It’s why we have Memorial Day. When I pass away, I’ll be buried here with him.&uot;

jason.norman@suffolknewsherald.com