Veterans' graves decorated for Memorial Day
EVANS CITY — This weekend American flags will dot cemeteries across Butler County to mark the graves of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
It's a tradition steeped in history, and a task that can be complicated.
According to John Cyprian, director of Butler County Veteran Services, the practice dates back to the 1920s, when the county had a grave registration committee. During that time grave sites were mapped, and veterans' graves were noted.
Though that program ended the tradition continued, with veterans service organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Legion Riders and others coming together to canvass the county with flags and markers. The practice is a county mandate, Cyprian said.
Cyprian said some challenges have arisen on a national and local level, such as when a veteran dies in another state and is transported back to Butler County for burial. Officials sometimes don't get proper records, leaving their status as a veteran unknown.
To combat that, Cyprian said his office tries to keep track of every veteran grave in the county, with committees working to make sure nobody is forgotten. He also recommends that veterans' families take an extra step when creating a headstone.
A full story will appear in the Butler Eagle.
