American Legion performs annual Memorial Day services

BREWSTER – Columbia Post 97 American Legion members Glenn Farrington and Frank Williver are up with the chickens Saturday morning, May 28, for what will be a long holiday weekend. The two veterans are among the dwindling list of volunteers who annually do the heavy lifting before, during, and after Memorial Day to honor military service.

Farrington and Williver devoted the early morning hours to distribute the 125 flag poles used to display the American flags that line the drive in Locust Grove Cemetery during Memorial Day.

Earlier the previous day Legion Auxiliary members Kim Patterson and daughter, Kaylin, spent the morning locating more than 200 veteran graves and placing a small white cross on each. A group of Brewster High School sophomore and junior volunteers arrived later that morning to complete the process of tapping the crosses into place and inserting small American flags into each one. While they worked a city public works crew checked each flagpole base – a capped PVC pipe sunk into the ground – to make sure each was free of damage or debris and ready to do its job.

On Memorial Day morning Farrington, Williver, and three other Legion members again arrived early to attach a 5’x7’ Stars and Stripes to each 14-1/2’ pole and set them in place. Each flag carries the name of a veteran buried in the well-manicured ground overlooking the Columbia River.

Beginning  at 9 a.m. Farrington, Williver, Greg Wagg, and Area Three Commander Denny Pittman assembled at six sites around the area – Pateros Cemetery, the Bridge Street Bridge, Packwood Memorial Cemetery, Fort Okanogan Cemetery, Locust Grove Cemetery, and Legion headquarters – to post the colors, lay a wreath, fire a three-volley salute, and play taps. Later a team of volunteers would collect the flags, poles, and crosses and place them in storage to be used again.

It is a call to duty that each volunteer not only takes solemnly but also feels honored to discharge. Members of the public who would like to experience the privilege of playing a role in this annual ritual are encouraged to contact the Brewster American Legion at 509-689-3307 or Area Three Commander Denny Pittman at 509-670-3904.