Veterans and families place flags at gravesites of fallen heroes ahead of Memorial Day

SIDNEY, NE - Normally, a ceremony on Memorial Day would be the main event this weekend in Sidney.

This year, the event was canceled due to COVID-19, meaning an event usually much smaller has a bigger role.

"This is definitely plan b," Cheyenne County Veterans Service Officer Fred Wiedeburg said.

Around 30 people came out to help place flags at the graves of every one of the veterans buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney.

"It's just wonderful, all the helpers," DAV Chapter 40 Commander Larry Nelson said. "The DAV folks, we're all compadres."

Half a dozen people usually show up to place Old Glory near headstones at the cemetery. With no ceremony, however, more people stepped up to help honor those who have served.

"They get to have a stake," Nelson said. "They contribute to the betterment of families and to the community."

Several veterans and their families came out to help.

"I see several people today have brought their children out," Wiedeburg said. "Hopefully we'll keep this going for generations to come."

Nelson started putting flags at graves 12 years ago, when he did it by himself. This year he had more helpers than bundles of flags to give out.

"I never thought that would happen," Nelson said. "It's a great statement from the community."

All are disappointed not being able to have a proper ceremony this year, but they realize any way they can honor the servicemen passed on is important.

"It's for veterans who have given their life either in the line of duty or they passed away and were a veteran," Wiedeburg said. "It's to remember fallen veterans so it's very important to keep that history alive."