WAKEFIELD — The public is invited to flag the graves of veterans at Lakeside Cemetery and Forest Glade Cemeteries. This is an annual tradition for all ages. The Wakefield Office of Veterans Services provides the American flags to be placed at veteran marked graves.
The practice of flagging veterans is rooted in a tradition of honoring military service and the fallen. It began as a tribute decorating graves of the fallen with flowers and evolved to include the placement of flags, particularly on Memorial Day.
The tradition is deeply intertwined with the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) and their establishment of Decoration Day in 1868, which later became Memorial Day.
The 2025 schedule for the flagging of the graves begins on Monday, May 19, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. at Lakeside Cemetery, 501 North Ave. Also, on the Upper Common, the Wakefield Girl Scouts plan to create a Flag Garden as a tribute to Wakefield’s fallen.
On Friday, May 23, 2025, at 3:30 p.m. the flagging of the graves at Forest Glade Cemetery, 470 Lowell St. begins.
These tributes take about an hour of time lending an opportunity for the public to honor those who served in the Armed Forces.
Residents can learn more about veteran benefit programs and services by contacting the Veteran Service Officer, David Mangan 781-246-6377.