MILWAUKEE — For the first time, Wisconsin veteran Donna Galik volunteered to place flags on other veterans’ graves ahead of Memorial Day. It’s a common tradition surrounding the holiday.

Memorial Day is a time to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Galik said she believes that sacrifice should be recognized even after a veteran has passed.

What You Need To Know

  • Each year, it’s common to place flags on the graves of veterans ahead of Memorial Day.

  • Veteran Donna Galik comes from a family of military service. Her late husband served in the Vietnam War, and her son served in Iraq. She also recently retired from the Air National Guard.

  • There are around 3,600 veterans at the Forest Home Cemetery. Around 1,000 of those are Civil War veterans.

  • Although this year is Galik’s first year volunteering, she said she plans on doing this for many years to come.

Galik comes from a family of military service. Her late husband served in the Vietnam War, and her son served in Iraq. She also recently retired from the Air National Guard.

“I wanted some volunteer opportunities that were meaningful to me,” Galik said. “Placing flags on veterans’ grave sites, I thought, would be very patriotic for me.”

(Spectrum News 1/Megan Marshall)

She said it means a lot to her to know she’s giving back to other veterans and their families.

“It’s a pretty special group to belong to, and a pretty special connection that we have,” Galik said.

Galik volunteered her time at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee. It’s a cemetery that is not only for veterans but for many others as well. It stands on hundreds of acres, so there are a lot of graves to be taken care of.

Galik walked around her assigned section while she looked for the graves of many veterans. To her, it was important to take the time to clean their graves, remember their names, and say a “thank you” as she placed the flags.

There are around 3,600 veterans at the Forest Home Cemetery. Around 1,000 of those are Civil War veterans. This is a big job for the cemetery, which is why they have groups of volunteers come in to help place the flags.

Sara Tomilin is the Forest Home Historic Preservation Association executive director. Tomilin said it means a lot to have others come in and help.

(Spectrum News 1/Megan Marshall)

“People come out here and take a stack of flags and a section. It’s amazing,” Tomilin said. “It’s wonderful to know we have people who want to do that.”

Although this year is Galik’s first year of volunteering, she said she plans on doing this for many years to come.

“As long as I am able to do this, I’ll do it,” Galik said.

She said it is time for her to reflect, not only on her own service, but the service of the thousands of men and women who rest in the cemetery.