Through the joint effort of multiple local organizations — including the Perry Historic Preservation Commission, Perry Elks Lodge 407 and the Perry Kiwanis Club — Violet Hill Cemetery has been bedecked with American flags for Memorial Day.
Members of the organizations volunteered their time and energy for a noble cause, walking the rows of headstones on this week’s hot, sunny days to plant flags wherever markers indicate a service member’s grave.
John Palmer of the Perry Historic Preservation Commission mentioned several especially dedicated volunteers: Ramona Peel and Gordon Nolan, he said, deserve a special “shout-out” for spending two days putting up flags on the whole east side of the cemetery, and Jim Walstrom came later Thursday and brought his elderly mother, who waited patiently in the shade of a cypress in the mild spring evening.
Palmer estimated upwards of 700 flags were planted at gravesides this year.
“The American Legion put out the flags for years,” Palmer said, “but many of them are getting up there in age, and it’s harder for them to get around, so it was awful nice that the Elks sent their crew out.”
Complementing the patriotic flag display, planters filled with fresh flowers donated by Shopko, Hy-Vee, and Harland Hardware were also distributed throughout the cemetery. The flowers were planted by Jeanette and Richard Peddicord, Connie and Haryln McGuire and Joe McCarty.
Special thanks were also given to Cemetery Director Richie Steadman, who provided a gator and access to the tools.
