LEWISTON — City officials again are looking for volunteers to help memorialize veterans’ grave sites throughout the city.
State law requires municipalities to place a small flag on the grave of every veteran. The state purchases the flags but relies on volunteers to put them in place.
The city has 13 cemeteries, ranging from the large St. Peter’s and Riverside cemeteries to smaller graveyards scattered around neighborhoods.
At least 7,000 of those graves memorialize veterans, and each one gets a flag for Memorial Day, according to the 2001 state law.
Two local groups, the Franco-American War Veterans Post 31 and Lewiston Knights of Columbus, are coordinating the effort this weekend at the city’s two largest cemeteries, St. Peter’s and Riverside.
Volunteers willing to place flags at St. Peter’s should meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at the mausoleum on Switzerland Road. Willie Danforth is the post commander and the contact person for that day at that cemetery.
Volunteers willing to place flags at Riverside Cemetery should meet at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at the entrance at the intersection of Riverside and Summer streets. Richard Vallee of the Lewiston Knights of Columbus is the contact person there.
Volunteers should wear sneakers or boots and should bring a screw driver or punch to make a hole in the ground. They should also bring bottles of water, bug spray, hats and sunscreen, depending on the weather. Children are welcome with adult supervision.
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