24th Annual Flags for Vets at local cemetery

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Every year in honor of Memorial Day many local groups and organizations partner to place American flags at veterans graves here in Rochester.

The groups Excellus Veterans Network, Excellus Bluecross Blueshield, local Boy Scout troops, and staff at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery all gathered today and placed nearly six thousand American flags at those graves to signify their thanks.

Rob Contestabile, the Leader of Veterans Network at Lifetime Healthcare said, “I can’t thank the Boy Scouts enough for continuing their tradition, starting and then continuing it all these years. You know, some of the Boy Scouts are in their 20s now, but they still come out with their dads to make sure that this happens. That means a lot. That means a lot to other veterans to see younger kids willing to come out and do something like this for those that served our country.”

He also told us today that this kind of honor and the mindset behind it’s something to hold dear, not just on Memorial Day, but every day.

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