It is a wonderful tradition for Scouts in the Phoenix area to place the flags on graves at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona on the Saturday prior to Memorial Day. Through end of fiscal year 2008, there were in excess of 52,500 interments. This means at least that many flags will need to be planted on the graves this year. With a large turnout of Scouts, as has occurred in recent years, the job gets done amazingly quickly (an hour or less). When all the flags are planted, and are brightly waving in the breeze, the scouts can look back over the fields at the work they have accomplished, and feel pride in the honoring of America’s veterans. This event also qualifies as an hour of earned service credit.
Who: Boy Scouts family and friends
Where: National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona
23029 North Cave Creek Road
Phoenix, AZ 85024
How to get there: Take the Cave Creek Road exit north from the Loop 101 to Pinnacle Peak Road, turn East on Pinnacle Peak Road and go ¼ mile. Cemetery will be on the right.
When: Saturday May 23, 2009. Gather at the flags near the reception area at 0645 am. Arrive earlier to get a decent parking place. Do not be late, as the flag planting event moves very rapidly, and late comers may miss out entirely.
Registration: At the reception area, each troop should have someone register for the entire unit. If families, lone scouts or scouters come separate from their unit, they should also register.
Bring: Hat, Water, Sun Screen, Lightweight Gloves. The cemetery will provide hole pokers and flags.