May 22, 2020
NORTH HANOVER TOWNSHIP, NJ (BURLINGTON)–On May 7, 2020 the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs canceled flag placement at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (See COVID-19 notice from their web page below)
Usually on the Friday afternoon-evening before Memorial Day weekend hundreds of Boy Scouts, veterans and volunteers place flags on the cemetery to honor veterans but was canceled by Governor Murphy’s COVID-19 executive orders. This year’s date was May 22, 2020 for the flag placement.
Permission was granted for the flag placement so The American Legion, VFW-Veterans Of Foreign Wars, and volunteers from other organizations including some Scouts got together and placed 47,000+ flags for Memorial Day that is a time honored tradition today.
“Believing that the tradition of honoring our fallen and deceased veterans is one of our most important missions and could be safely conducted, she had several communications with the leadership of the State Department of Military & Veterans Affairs leading the VFW to be granted approval to place the flags on the graves. Our Commander (State Commander Barbara Kim-Hagemann) has also reached out to our brothers and sisters in The American Legion, DAV & the Marine Corps League and invited them to participate as a joint project. We all have the same mission and desire to honor our fallen.” -from VFW flyer about the placement.
Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery. 47,000 Veteran graves now have Flags in honor of Memorial Day. Thanks to past Post 6063 Commander, Department Commander Barbara Kim Hagemann for spearheading this mission and getting over 100 volunteers including VFW, American Legion and other Veterans organizations to assist with honoring all our veterans and their families. Truly appreciate each and everyone who was able to participate.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the leadership of our Department, in the best interest and safety of all who would have attended, has cancelled our proposed May 22, 2020 Friday – Flag Night & May 23, 2020, Memorial Day Ceremony at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery.