Volunteers honor veteran gravestones with flags, crosses at Sylvan Cemetery

By Sara Beth Williams–
Beneath the shade of Cypress trees, several veterans walked up and down each row of grave sites at Sylvan Cemetery on Thursday morning, placing white wooden crosses and American flags at the head of each military veteran’s gravestone.

In honor of Memorial Day, at least 20 volunteers spent an hour-and-a-half on May 23, posting crosses and flags on more than 1,400 military veteran graves. Volunteers ranged from non-veterans to former military veterans, men and women, to a handful of young students. One representative of the American Legion Post 637 said at least five members from their post had come to volunteer Thursday morning.

Annually, flags are placed on the grave sites of veterans every Thursday prior to Memorial Day and removed on the next Tuesday. Paul Reyes with the American Legion Post 637 told The Sentinel that volunteers have been placing flags and crosses on veterans’ grave sites for at least 20 years.

A representative of Sylvan Cemetery told The Sentinel that cemetery staff spent Thursday and Friday walking the grounds in order to ensure no veteran graves were missed. According to the cemetery district, there are between 1,400 and 1,600 veterans buried at Sylvan Cemetery, and roughly 180 buried veterans do not have military-specific headstones. Staff maintains a master list and dedicates time to marking the 180 graves with crosses and flags as well.

While many have been volunteering for years, others, like military veteran Alfonso Martinez and his brother, came to place crosses and flags on military veteran gravestones at this cemetery for the first time.

Martinez said his father served in Korea, and at least one brother also served in the military. Martinez is now retired and spends his time volunteering with veterans’ organizations.

The Sylvan Cemetery District is the oldest district cemetery in Sacramento County. In 1862, Daniel Lewis donated one-tenth of an acre, and a community cemetery was established, according to the cemetery’s website. The district was formed in 1926, and the cemetery now spans 18 acres.

The great number of markers for the Spanish-American War is due to a U.S. Army Camp and Induction Center that was located in Roseville during the 1898 war, according to the cemetery’s website.

Sylvan Cemetery is located at 7401 Auburn Blvd., and the district serves the communities of Citrus Heights, Orangevale, Antelope, North Highlands, Rio Linda, Elverta, and parts of Natomas.