By Anthony Ciano, Staff Writer
November 18, 2023
ROCKLAND- On Saturday, November 4, 37 students from Rockland High School traveled to the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne to place flags on the graves of veterans.
This quick trip was a community service opportunity supervised by National Honor Society advisor Ms. Kristen Walsh and history teacher Ms. Kara Penney and was sponsored by the National Honor Society.
Rockland High School has done this trip for many years as it serves as a fulfilling and educational experience for students to embrace.
Many students attending the trip were able to access the opportunity to visit loved ones buried in the cemetery.
Senior Ainsley Cavicchi, who has a great uncle buried there, added, “Seeing what it meant to my family, I can’t even imagine what it meant to other families who received the help of students”
Once arrived, a computer search resource was available to aid students in their navigation to their family members through the huge cemetery.
By typing in their loved ones' names, the computer printed a map with directions to the exact row and section the loved one is buried in.
Sophomore Emily Holbrook, has her great uncle who fought in the army during the Vietnam War buried in the cemetery and explains how “important it was to visit [her] buried family member.”
Before students set out on their journey of placing flags in graves, a big ceremony was held in the stage area of the cemetery which honored all veterans and current active servicemen from all branches.
A veteran representative from the army, the navy, the air force, the coast guard, the marines, and the army reserve, were chosen to place the first flags of the event.
Holbrook, also stated that her “favorite parts were planting the flags and listening to the inspiring speeches made”.
Once the opening ceremony concluded, students got into small groups and headed out to sections to start filling the graves with flags.
Students were instructed to place flags in the section of their choosing from back to front, that way graves that still needed a flag were much easier to be identified.
Students attending this event spoke positively about it and praised the benefits of going on this trip.
Cavicchi said that the experience “was very humbling, eye-opening, and expanded my gratitude towards Veterans.”
While placing flags, students also had the ability to take the time to read some of the many graves available and become informed on veterans' backgrounds, religious affiliations, and wars served in.
Walsh explained, “We have done the November flag placement several years in a row and hope to continue that. There is also the same thing for Memorial Day and if we can work out scheduling and interest we would definitely do that as well.”
In the future, students can look forward to a potential Memorial Day trip to the cemetery and more years of the inspiring Veterans Day trip to come.