Scouts honor veterans on Memorial Day

Evan Long of Scout Pack 1216, Den 4 places a flower at the base of a gravesite.

Scouts honor veterans on Memorial Day

Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from Scripps Ranch participated in a dignified and somber tribute honoring veterans interred at Miramar National Cemetery on the morning of May 28 in observance of Memorial Day. Local Scouts were joined by a handful of military personnel and many civilians, both men and women of all ages, in a very sincere and often emotional observance. Participants placed one flower precisely 18 inches in front of every single gravestone, stepped back and recited the name of the veteran whose name appeared on the headstone.

The event began at 8 a.m. with the presentation of the colors. A scoutmaster explained the proper procedures and State Assemblyman Brian Maienschein recognized those who made the event possible.

Those attending then quietly strode toward the gravesites, stopping at stations to pick up flowers. Participants respectfully placed a single flower on each grave site as designated by the scout master.

This was the first time local Scouts participated in the event at Miramar National Cemetery, which is an auxiliary cemetery to Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in Point Loma, now at capacity. Miramar National Cemetery is administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Local Scouts and other volunteers solemnly placed one flower near each gravesite at Miramar National Cemetery on May 28.

Cub Scouts from Scripps Ranch choose flowers to place at gravesites at Miramar National Cemetery.