Brewster students volunteer to place veterans crosses, flags

BREWSTER – Nine Brewster High School junior and sophomore girls were among volunteers who turned out early Saturday morning, May 25, to place more than 200 white crosses with attached American flags on veterans graves in Locust Grove Cemetery.

The students, members of Family Care and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) gathered at 8:30 a.m. under overcast skies and a light rain to divide into two groups and begin at the west end of the cemetery and work eastward. Brewster High School student volunteers included Fatima Reynoso, Ashley Esquivel, Lissett Pamatz, Dulce Roman, Lizbeth Lopez, Nila Sutherland, Heidi Roman, Citlalli Pamatz and Yovana Perez.

Kim and Don Patterson, who have been volunteering at the cemetery for more than a decade, brought containers of crosses and flags and gave the volunteers a quick primer on the proper way to set the crosses and place the flags.

Each veteran’s grave had been pre-marked with a small red road flag. One person in each group made a hole with an iron bar where a cross was to be sunk and lightly tapped into place with a hammer. An American flag was then inserted into pre-drilled blocks attached behind each cross.

The Brewster High School shop class under the guidance of instructor Todd Dezellem supplies the crosses needed each year.

“This year we made 62,” Dezellem said.

Grover’s Building Supply and Brewster Marketplace Pharmacy & Hardware provided the respective lumber and paint supplies for the project at cost.

By 10 a.m. all crosses and flags were in place as visitors began arriving with flowers and the rainfall increased in intensity into the afternoon.