NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — Memorializing men and women who have served for our country is what Memorial Day is all about. While many know their sacrifices, some are just learning about them.
The solemn holiday brings many families and communities out to Camp Nelson National Cemetery for the annual flag placements on gravesites of U.S. service members.
Nearly 17,000 American flags will be placed on graves of those who served our country. It’s something Camp Nelson National Cemetery has done for many years to memorialize service members in Kentucky. Camp Nelson only has a staff of seven people, so they rely heavily on the community’s efforts for Memorial Day and Veterans Day to place flags on service members’ graves.
Dozens of community members and organizations joined the volunteer effort, but one group stood out the most. Simply because of how young they were. The Boy Scouts organization in Lexington was one of the many organizations placing the flags on graves. Preston Taylor, a 10-year-old Boy Scout, helped volunteer.
“That hole right there doesn’t work at all [not deep enough],” said Taylor
It takes serious skill and muscle to drive American flags 12 inches deep into the earth. When Taylor does succeed in getting the American flag in place on service member’s gravesites a smile lights up on his face.
“Yes, I got it!,” said Taylor.
Taylor uses his strength, determination and a screwdriver to carefully dig a hole to place the American flag in before saluting the service member that has passed away. This is all thanks to the help of various community members and organizations around Central Kentucky. Taylor says the honor is more than he could have imagined, as this is his first time being a part of the event.
“It’s a really, really big honor. It means a lot,” said Taylor.
Overseeing Camp Nelson’s Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day events is Paul Proffitt who serves as a chairman for the Central Kentucky Veterans Committee.
“It’s heartwarming to me that parents are bringing young kids out here to teach them about sacrifice and the history of our country. These 17,000 plus veterans have served and a lot of them gave their lives in combat,” said Proffitt.
Service members laid to rest in Camp Nelson National Cemetery span almost every war that involved a U.S. presence. The cemetery even includes a service member named William M. Harris who received the Medal of Honor. In the United States, it’s the government’s highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded to American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor.
Taylor was helped by his fellow scouts who are also 10 years old. The scouts are Webelos, which is affiliated with Boy Scouts, but it means they’re a year shy of being Boy Scouts. The boys Club Master, Walter Meade, knows their willingness to learn history shows they’re ready to take on more duties for the organization.
Camp Nelson Nation
al Monument and Cemetery will continue remembering those who have served Monday with a ceremony starting at 11 a.m.