Team March To Honor Veterans At Memorial Day Flag Detail

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Wendy Day
  • 452nd Air Mobility Wing
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. --  

MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – Service members, families, and volunteers will gather May 24 at Evergreen Memorial Park in Riverside, California, to honor more than 1,000 veterans interred there during the annual Memorial Day Flag Detail organized by Team March.

Participants are asked to report to the cemetery no later than 7:45 a.m., with activities beginning promptly at 8 a.m. Mr. John Morris, 452nd Air Mobility Wing Installation Security Officer and event coordinator, will lead a short safety briefing and provide historical insights about several of the dignitaries resting at Evergreen Memorial Park before volunteers disperse to place flags on each veteran’s grave.

“This tradition is about more than placing flags; it’s about ensuring that each veteran’s service and sacrifice is recognized and remembered,” Morris said. “Memorial Day is a time to honor those who gave everything for our freedoms. It’s the least we can do.” The annual event has been a part of Riverside’s Memorial Day weekend observances for decades, drawing service members and civilians alike to pay tribute. The effort includes placing flags at the grave of one Medal of Honor recipient among the many veterans laid to rest.

"We take a moment at each grave, read the name, and remember that behind every name is a story
of courage and service," Morris said. "Our goal is to teach younger generations, especially the children who come out to help, what it means to live in a free country built on the sacrifices of others."

Attendees may wear either military uniforms or civilian clothing. Families and children are encouraged to participate, and all materials, including American flags and maps marking veteran gravesites, will be provided. Volunteers will be divided into small groups led by designated group leaders to cover each section of the cemetery.

The event is expected to conclude by approximately 9:30 a.m. Evergreen Memorial Park is located at 4414 14th Street, Riverside, California, 92501.
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Following the flag placement, the cemetery will host a Memorial Day ceremony at 11:30 a.m., open to the public. The ceremony will feature the Presentation of the Colors, the playing of the National Anthem, remarks by Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and the President of the Evergreen Memorial Historic Cemetery Board of Directors, a keynote Memorial Day address, poetry readings, wreath presentations to the military service and POW/MIA flagpoles, a three-round musket volley, and the playing of “Taps.”

“Memorial Day is not just a day off or the start of summer," Morris said. "It’s a solemn day to reflect on the lives lost in service to this country. I encourage everyone to come out, place a flag, and stay for the ceremony. It's a powerful reminder of the cost of our freedoms."