Memorial Day Flowers Tribute Al

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***********This will be long, but I hope you can read through this before going to the link.*************
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Please take a look at the page for the Memorial Day Flower Tribute for the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL.

In 2007 the Veterans Administration purchased 479 acres for $8 million, in what is within 15 miles of the absolute geographic center of Alabama. It opened in 2009 with 52 developed acres, and currently has just over 6000 of our brother and sister veterans and family who occupy graves, having honorably served our Nation, or supporting those who served.

Every year, National Cemetery’s around the Nation will observe Memorial Day by hosting a ceremony to honor and pay respects to those who have given so much. During these ceremonies, many of these cemeteries will participate in the Flower On Every Grave initiative established, provided and supported by Victory For Veterans and the Memorial Day Flower Foundation. This program has been extremely beneficial to family and friends of our fallen heroes by providing a rose on every grave, signifying that they are not forgotten.

COL Mikel J. Burroughs first informed me of this project in 2017, just a few months before Memorial Day. I listened and immediately knew we needed this at the Alabama National Cemetery.

The problem was that I could find no one in our area to take it on, and my health would not allow me to help. It looked as if it wouldn’t happen, so I did the only thing I could do. I called COL Burroughs and told him I would do it.

I should not have volunteered. I was sick and I was hurting. I didn’t have the ability to accomplish all that needed to be done, I was sure of it.

However, it had to be done, so I put on my game face, pretended like I knew what I was doing, prayed hard and made phone calls. The first year, we were able to successfully raise over $5000 to provide a flower on each grave of every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, and Coast Guardsman. I was able to enlist a few friends, and even though I was confined to an electric wheelchair and on oxygen, the event was a success and the staff of the National Cemetery requested it become an annual event.

I said yes, I took the first step. It wasn’t successful because I am super intelligent or super sharp; it was a success simply because I said yes, and Steve Durgin and COL Burroughs were supportive and patient.

Please, take a look at this link to see what it’s about. I will keep everyone updated on here as well. Keep in mind that there are hundreds more National Cemeteries across the Nation that need someone to step up and take the helm to bring this program to them, along with the emotional support it brings to family and friends. If you would like to see if you can help with this, shoot a line to COL Burroughs, or shoot one to me and I will let COL Burroughs and relay your info.

Thank you in advance for viewing the link, and I appreciate your reading this through.