(KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
At Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Saturday: simultaneous ceremonies showing patriotism and heroism. Thousands of boy scouts decorated more than 150 thousand graves, as one family honored one soldier with his final memorial on Memorial Day weekend.
"It is so cool how it's got the red, white, and blue in front of all of them, a really great sight," says 13 year old Ben Gratza, a boy scout decorating graves in Jefferson Barracks.
Eagle Scout Michael Lombardo was even more impressed. "It's like a miracle has happened," he says.
But the miracle comes through thousands of young hands with minds already wise to what this day is and what this place is. Gratza and Lombardo are two of five thousand Boy Scouts who, each Sunday before Memorial Day, transform Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with more than 172 thousand flag, a flag for each grave.
"This is the 60th anniversary," says Organizer and Boy Scout Leader Ron Newton. "To show these young scouts what an honor it is to honor all these heroes here that are buried here is just gratifying to us old guys, to see their faces and see how they light up."
Lombardo says, with each flag, there is a moment of recognition.
"I find myself thinking, 'Wow, I've studied this. I've heard about it or read about it in books, but when you actually see it, it's like something amazing has happened, it's incredible."
He sees the courage shown by so many as incredible. Edward Forrest, Junior showed such courage.
"He's a special kid," says Forrest's father, Keith Dennis. "He's very dedicated to what he was doing he was there to do his job, and he gave his all."
The Army Sergeant should have turned 26 this week. He volunteered for a second tour of duty in Iraq, and died there April 10, one month and one day after his second son was born. His memorial service is on Memorial Day weekend in a chapel in the same cemetery where the boy scouts workÂ
"He's our hero," says Dennis. "He died saving a lot of lives."
And the services for local soldiers killed in the line of duty will continue for the next couple of days. Air Force Officer Rosalyn Schulte of Ladue was killed last week in Afghanistan. Her services are Monday. Tuesday is the funeral for Army Sergeant David Schaefer of Belleville. He died in Iraq May 16.
"Without them, where would our country be?" asks Gratza. "They fought for our country and all our freedom."
"It is so cool how it's got the red, white, and blue in front of all of them, a really great sight," says 13 year old Ben Gratza, a boy scout decorating graves in Jefferson Barracks.
Eagle Scout Michael Lombardo was even more impressed. "It's like a miracle has happened," he says.
But the miracle comes through thousands of young hands with minds already wise to what this day is and what this place is. Gratza and Lombardo are two of five thousand Boy Scouts who, each Sunday before Memorial Day, transform Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with more than 172 thousand flag, a flag for each grave.
"This is the 60th anniversary," says Organizer and Boy Scout Leader Ron Newton. "To show these young scouts what an honor it is to honor all these heroes here that are buried here is just gratifying to us old guys, to see their faces and see how they light up."
Lombardo says, with each flag, there is a moment of recognition.
"I find myself thinking, 'Wow, I've studied this. I've heard about it or read about it in books, but when you actually see it, it's like something amazing has happened, it's incredible."
He sees the courage shown by so many as incredible. Edward Forrest, Junior showed such courage.
"He's a special kid," says Forrest's father, Keith Dennis. "He's very dedicated to what he was doing he was there to do his job, and he gave his all."
The Army Sergeant should have turned 26 this week. He volunteered for a second tour of duty in Iraq, and died there April 10, one month and one day after his second son was born. His memorial service is on Memorial Day weekend in a chapel in the same cemetery where the boy scouts workÂ
"He's our hero," says Dennis. "He died saving a lot of lives."
And the services for local soldiers killed in the line of duty will continue for the next couple of days. Air Force Officer Rosalyn Schulte of Ladue was killed last week in Afghanistan. Her services are Monday. Tuesday is the funeral for Army Sergeant David Schaefer of Belleville. He died in Iraq May 16.
"Without them, where would our country be?" asks Gratza. "They fought for our country and all our freedom."
