Union places nearly 3K flags at Riverside National Cemetery after event canceled due to shutdown

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) — An Inland Empire union stepped up to place 2,400 flags at veterans’ graves at Riverside National Cemetery, filling in for a canceled annual event.

The annual flag-placing tradition, which typically features a quarter of a million flags, was called off this year due to limited staffing amid the government shutdown. Riverside National Cemetery is managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has been impacted by the ongoing shutdown.

The annual Veterans Day ceremony, originally scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 11, was also canceled. Laura Herzog, founder of Honoring Our Fallen—the organization behind the event—explained the decision in a statement.

“This decision was not made lightly; it comes after careful consideration of the significant staffing reductions and various logistical challenges we are facing, including limited access to facilities, trash management, and traffic control,” Herzog said.

Cemetery employees are typically responsible for managing traffic, ensuring the safety of children, and maintaining restroom facilities during the event, all of which require adequate staffing.

In response, more than 300 volunteers from local chapters of the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters took the initiative to place flags at the cemetery on Saturday. The union members purchased their own flags, emphasizing their commitment to honoring veterans.

They stated they wanted to make sure the “heroes are not forgotten at Riverside National Cemetery.”

This heartfelt effort ensured that despite government staffing challenges, veterans at Riverside National Cemetery received a respectful tribute this Veterans Day.
https://abc7.com/post/union-places-3000-flags-riverside-national-cemetery-annual-event-canceled-due-government-shutdown/18141470/

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