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WARREN -- The Trumbull County Veterans Service Commission is working to make sure veterans have flags placed on their graves for Memorial Day.
The commission has distributed 20,000 flags to communities throughout the county.
Herm Breuer, the organization's executive director, said volunteers already have been busy putting flags on veteran markers at Pineview and Oakwood cemeteries in Warren.
Veterans such as Sam Lanza and Gary Gutelius had led the effort, Breuer noted, but since they and others since have died, the TCVSC is leading the effort.
Breuer said the Trumbull County Memorial Day / Veterans Day Federation has representatives from groups throughout the county such as Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Army-Navy, American Legion and Military Order of the Purple Heart.
"They would all come together and plan on getting flags at the cemeteries for veterans. The flags are a way to show respect for our veterans," he said.
He said Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1090 handles the flags for Oakwood Cemetery.
"The flags are put out at cemeteries throughout the county mostly by volunteers. People can help at cemeteries where they live. There are many organizations and scouting groups who volunteer to place the flags. Our office is responsible for the distribution of all of the flags for markers throughout the county," Breuer said.
He said the flags are placed on graves where information notes the person served in the military. Breuer said the TCVSC owns plots in nine cemeteries throughout the county.
"Many of the flags are being placed the weekend before Memorial Day," Breuer said of the 20,000 flags distributed.
Flags stay up through the Fourth of July.
Cari Delgado, deputy director at TCVSC and a Navy veteran, said the volunteers do their best to get flags on all veterans' graves, but if a grave is not marked that the person served in the military, a flag will not be placed.
She said the public can let the TCVSC know of veteran graves. A marker, label or medallion also can be placed on a headstone to indicate a veteran's grave.
Those requesting a flag to be placed on a grave can call 330-675-2585.
Memorial Day events
• BROOKFIELD -- Ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Memorial Day at the cemetery followed by the dedication of a bridge at noon on Warren Sharon Road, east of Yankee Run Golf Course, as "Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge" for three local veterans killed in Vietnam. A procession will begin at Grove Street and travel to the Brookfield Township Cemetery.
• CORTLAND -- Observance will be at 11 a.m. Memorial Day at the Veterans Memorial at Point Park hosted by Cortland Veterans Memorial Committee and the American Legion Post 540. There will be am Air Force flyover by the Youngstown Air Reserve Station at the beginning. Speaker will be Major Nathanael Okhuysen, an active duty Air Force staff judge advocate general and resident of Cortland.
• FOWLER -- Celebration will be at 10 a.m. Memorial Day, with a memorial service at the center green followed by the parade at 11 a.m. Pizza and water will be provided at the fire department following the parade.
• GIRARD -- Ceremony will be at 11 a.m. Memorial Day at the Girard City Cemetery sponsored by Girard Veterans Council. Short biographies of deceased local Vietnam veterans will be presented by Girard High School class presidents from grades ninth to 12th.
• HARTFORD -- Ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Memorial Day at the village cemetery, state Routes 7 and 305.
• HUBBARD -- Ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Memorial Day at Union Cemetery and then to the war memorial. The dedication of the Purple Heart Veterans Memorial Bridge will be at 9 a.m. June 3. The bridge is located next to the old Stiver Chevrolet dealership.
• LORDSTOWN -- Ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Memorial Day at the cemetery with refreshments served at the village administration building afterward.
• McDONALD -- Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. May 28 at the War Memorial in Woodland Park, corner of Fifth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
• NEWTON FALLS -- Parade will form at the west parking lot of Cadle Company by the fire station at 10 a.m. on Memorial Day and travel south on North Canal to Broad Street to the West River Bridge. Judge Philip Vigorito with Kelley Brasko and Maryanne Madison from VFW Auxiliary 3332 will hold a service for the men and women lost at sea. The parade will then proceed to Veterans Park.
• NILES -- Services will be at 11 a.m. Memorial Day at the Niles City Cemetery veterans section hosted by American Legion William McKinley Post 106.
• WARREN -- Trumbull County Memorial Day and Veterans Day Federation are hosting the annual observance and parade. On Memorial Day at 10:30 a.m., a wreath will be cast upon the water of the Mahoning River, just behind the Warren Community Amphitheatre. The service will begin at 11 a.m. at the amphitheater. The parade will begin at noon with lineup at 10 a.m. in Perkins Park. The parade will travel south on Mahoning Avenue from the Trumbull County Tourism Bureau to Market Street then east on Market to Chestnut, where it will head south on Chestnut to Niles Road and end at the entrance to Oakwood Cemetery. Inside the cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknowns, the VFW 1090 Auxiliary will conduct a ceremony and wreath laying.
• WARREN --W.D. Packard Concert Band at Packard Music Hall, Warren, at 3 p.m. May 28.
To include a Veterans Day event, email to society@tribtoday.com