Although it is two months since Memorial Day, it was so meaningful this year that it moved me to tell about it now.  The delay is because while the main media story was the next day, my copier machines are all on the “disabled list” and it was only until mid-July that copies were able to be made to allow a real digestion of the story despite having lived it.

It seems that for the last 45 years, the Floral Haven Cemetery has held an “Avenue of Flags” beginning on Saturday morning and ending Monday evening, at least since Congress established the Day as the last Monday of May rather than May 30.

This year there were just under 4,000 flags flying for the weekend on metal poles lining the drives of the cemetery.  The flags are the large casket covering flags that our grateful government has military units remove from the casket before burial, fold and present to the survivors of a departed member or veteran of military.

This year there were, if memory serves correct, 167 new flags raised for the first time on Saturday morning to join the returning ones from previous years that had been placed by JROTC and Boy Scout unit members on Friday.  Each flag has printed on the white end the name of the person for whom it was given. 

The pole likewise has a permanent plate on the pole also labeled.  During the off season the poles are stored and each flag is examined for cleanliness, washed if necessary, solidness and replaced if necessary – all at the cost of Floral Haven.  This year it was my honor and privilege to be the representative for a new flag for Sgt. Al Price, co-founder of the World War II Vets of Tulsa Club, placed by the club.  There is a special ceremony where all the newcomers are raised simultaneously Saturday morning.

For some years, cadet members of an area Civil Air Patrol Squadron have been replicating the guard and changing of the guard at the ‘Tomb of the Unknown”

at a half-scale replica from 1 p.m. Saturday to 5 p.m. Memorial Day, straight through. They are the only unit in the nation I know that is approved to do so, and from my observation that is accurate.

 This year a new, full-scale, replica of the Tomb was dedicated and will be used in the future.  It so happens that Jim DeLoach, moderator of our WW II Vets of Tulsa, now called “All Veterans Gathering,” has been telling us about a “secret salute” now used by the Sgt. of the Guard at Arlington.  The salute happens when the sergeant sees a person, he/she believes to be a veteran upon passing, the person will scrape his/her heel as a salute.  Most are as yet not aware of this so do not return the salute.

A past commander of the CAP Squadron was visiting our meeting on Thursday before Memorial Day with his daughter, who is one of the Guard sergeants, heard the story and mentioned afterwards that the Squadron Guard Sergeants would adopt the salute during the guard detail over the weekend. 

Unfortunately for Jim, when he received the salute, he had so much camera gear that he couldn’t render a return.  So, on Saturday afternoon when I returned to watch the changing, a reporter had been questioning me and been told about this and the duty sergeant passing in front of where we were standing rendered the salute and it was my privilege to properly return.  Perhaps the first time that was done in Oklahoma.

The whole weekend operation is most touching and at the same time uplifting to me to see the patriotism and dedication to duty demonstrated by these young, mostly high school age, participants. 

Watching all of them carrying out their duties gives me encouragement for the future of our “one of a kind” nation.  It is without hesitation or reservation that the strongest recommendation can be made to all loyal and proud of the USA citizens to make an effort to visit this program next Memorial Day weekend.

It will make you proud, as it did me.

There is no admission charge for any of the functions all weekend.  It is recommenced that arrival for the opening ceremonies on Saturday be at least 30 minutes before the scheduled 9 a.m. with a program, this year featuring U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Oklahoma, before the raising of the new flags at about 9:30 a.m.  Just before the official opening there was the “wreath presentation” at the Tomb in accordance with the procedure at Arlington.