Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Memorial Day in St. Augustine: Will Unreasonable Veterans Administration Order BE REVERSED?

VA's controversial order forbidding Boy Scouts from placing flags on graves on Memorial cannot stand.  As applied to our small cemetery here, after discussions with VA yesterday (May 19),  I am hopeful that reason will prevail on Memorial Day.  More here.

From former St. Augustine Mayor George Gardner's St. Augustine Report:




Memorial Day in the new normal




   Annual Memorial Day ceremonies will be carried out at the St. Augustine National Cemetery Monday, May 25, but as of today without public participation due to restrictions in the coronavirus pandemic.

   Lt. Col Ron Birchall USA ret representing the Military Officers Association, Ancient City Chapter, and Lt. Col Bill Dudley, USAF ret representing the Veterans Council will conduct a wreath laying ceremony at 1 pm, followed by TAPS presented by Deputy Sheriff John Donlon and a missing man flyover provided by the Dream Squadron out of Green Cove Springs.
   The ceremonies will be closed to the public.
   "We are limited by National Cemetery Administration (NCA) to the number of people we can have in the cemetery until further notice, so for the on grounds event, this is all we can do this year," says Veterans Council Chair Dudley. 
   "The NCA is adamant about no groups of people in the cemeteries. Individuals can go and place a flag on a relative's or loved one's grave but no groups."

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