By Ashley Green – Worcester Telegram, May 20, 2020
Volunteers from the office of Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis, along with Reserve Deputies from the Worcester County Reserve Deputies Sheriff’s Association, local volunteers, members of East Side American Legion Post 201 and Main South Post, placed 6,000 flags on graves of veterans at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day.
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, wearing face masks due to COVID-19 restrictions, present the colors during a short program before volunteers place over 6,000 flags on graves at St. John’s Cemetery to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis speaks before a group of volunteers place over 6,000 flags on graves to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Donna Joppas joins over 100 other volunteers placing over 6,000 flags on veterans’ graves at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Donna Belanger, Deputy Sheriff at the Civil Processing Office, places one of over 6,000 flags on veterans’ graves at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Volunteers place over 6,000 flags on veterans’ graves at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
The Worcester County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, complete with face masks, present the colors before volunteers place over 6,000 flags on graves at St. John’s Cemetery to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Margaret Connor Fedyk pauses for a quiet moment while placing a flag on the grave of her father, William T. Connor Jr., a Battle of the Bulge survivor, at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
U.S. Army Veteran Harry Manoogian salutes the flag during a short program before volunteers place over 6,000 flags on graves at St. John’s Cemetery to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Erin Macaruso, from the Worcester County Reserve Deputies Sheriff’s Association, hands out flags as volunteers place over 6,000 flags on veterans’ graves at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Carl Cervini, of Shrewsbury, stops to snap a photo after placing one of over 6,000 flags on veterans’ graves at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Volunteers listen in to Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis before they would place over 6,000 flags on graves to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Corey Stebbins places one of over 6,000 flags on veterans’ graves at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Lois Dwira performs the National Anthem during a short program before volunteers place over 6,000 flags on graves at St. John’s Cemetery to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
Danita Sutton motions to a fellow volunteer that more flags are needed as they place over 6,000 flags on veterans’ graves at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Volunteers place over 6,000 flags on veterans’ graves at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Volunteers listen in to Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis before they would place over 6,000 flags on graves to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
Legion Post 201 Commander and Ret. USMC Sgt. Larry Sasso speaks during a short program before volunteers place over 6,000 flags on graves at St. John’s Cemetery to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Deacon John Franchi, Senior Master Sergeant USAF Ret. blesses the flags during a short program before volunteers place over 6,000 flags on graves at St. John’s Cemetery to honor veterans ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Bill and Lisa Gibbons plant flowers on the grave of a family member as volunteers place over 6,000 flags on veterans’ graves at St. John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day, Wednesday, May 20, 2020.