URGENT UPDATE: Flags will fly at Riverside National Cemetery this Veterans Day, despite the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. A nonprofit’s annual flag-placing event was canceled, but a local union is stepping in to ensure veterans are honored.
On Saturday, November 8, over 300 union carpenter volunteers from the Inland Local 951 and Local 909 chapters of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters will gather to place nearly 3,000 U.S. flags at veterans’ graves. This initiative comes after the nonprofit organization Honoring Our Fallen announced it could not hold its traditional flag placement event or the Veterans Day ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, November 11.
The flags will adorn a section of the cemetery, but they represent only a fraction of the more than 270,000 flags typically placed during this event. Union representatives emphasized the importance of honoring those who served, stating, “We want to make sure heroes are not forgotten at Riverside National Cemetery.”
Alex Madrid, a representative from the union, confirmed that the members purchased the flags themselves. “When the government shuts down, service doesn’t stop,” he remarked. “These union carpenters are proving that patriotism and respect for our fallen never take a day off.”
For years, union carpenters have collaborated with Boy and Girl Scout troops, local churches, businesses, and various volunteer groups to participate in this solemn tradition. The annual flag placement ceremony typically includes an honor guard and involves thousands of volunteers.
Honoring Our Fallen cited “significant staffing reductions” and “logistical challenges” as reasons for the cancellation, including issues with access to facilities and traffic management. Nevertheless, the union members felt compelled to act, particularly as many have family members interred at the cemetery.
“We have members with family buried there, and a lot of our own members are buried there,” Madrid added. “It means a lot to the organization to honor our veterans. We had a lot who were saying, ‘What could we do?’”
Following the flag placement, volunteers will remove the flags on Wednesday, November 12. The cemetery remains open from sunrise to sunset during the shutdown, inviting the public to place their own flags to honor veterans.
This developing story highlights the dedication of local communities to uphold traditions of remembrance, even amidst federal challenges. As the nation gears up for Veterans Day, the actions of these union carpenters serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of honoring those who sacrificed for freedom.
Stay tuned for more updates on this and other Veterans Day events as they unfold.
